Environmental Key Issues
Air Quality
Policy
SK Gas maintains relatively low air pollutant emissions due to the nature of its LPG storage and shipment processes. As of the end of 2024, it maintains one of the lowest emission levels in the global industry. However, SK Gas does not remain complacent and continues to pursue air pollutant emission reduction through continuous facility investment and operational management. It regularly measures the concentration of air pollutants emitted from air pollutant-emitting facilities within its business sites, reports the results to relevant authorities, and transparently discloses this information through sustainability reports.
Strategies and Activities
To reduce air pollutants and greenhouse gases generated during the unloading and storage of imported LPG, which accounts for the majority of air pollutant emissions at business sites, SK Gas is implementing both short-term and mid-term reduction plans. In the short term, by using seawater heat exchangers on vessels, the operation rate of propane heaters is reduced. In 2023, three propane heaters at the Ulsan terminal were equipped with TMS to monitor nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions in real-time. Additionally, in 2024, the operation of seawater heat exchangers was newly initiated, further lowering the usage of propane heaters. In the mid-term, SK Gas plans to expand the use of seawater heat exchangers and procure renewable energy through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and other means. This initiative aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, ultimately achieving Net Zero by 2030.
- * TMS: Tele Monitoring System that automatically measures and transmits air pollutant emissions.
Metrics
SK Gas annually updates and discloses past three-year performance and future three-year plans regarding air pollutant emissions for each business site.
Waste
Policy
SK Gas recognizes the significant environmental impact caused by leachate from landfill processes and greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions from waste incineration. Therefore, the company strives to minimize waste output at its sites and maximize the recycling of generated waste. Additionally, SK Gas establishes its own waste reduction and recycling targets and implements measures to enhance recycling, such as adopting new technologies and discovering new recycling companies.
Strategies and Activities
To effectively achieve waste reduction and recycling, SK Gas monitors waste generation status at its headquarters and various sites, managing potential environmental risks based on a classification system.
Furthermore, by adopting new technologies and identifying high-capacity waste management companies with excellent recycling capabilities, SK Gas has consistently improved its recycling rate. As a result, all SK Gas sites have obtained the ZWTL (Zero Waste to Landfill) certification, a globally recognized standard for waste recycling.
Metrics
SK Gas manages waste discharge and recycling rates as performance indicators at the business unit level and establishes mid-term management goals. These achievements and goals are transparently and publicly disclosed annually through disclosure channels such as sustainability management reports.
Soil
Policy
SK Gas recognizes the protection of soil, the foundation of life, as a critical element of its management practices. SK Gas's storage terminals, located in the regional industrial complexes of Ulsan and Pyeongtaek, strive to minimize their impact on the soil environment by adhering to industrial complex management standards and relevant regulations. In the event of soil environmental damage, SK Gas is committed to restoration or replacement.
When constructing new business sites in the future, SK Gas will avoid locations within environmental protection zones as defined by international agreements and domestic laws. In compliance with relevant regulations, SK Gas will conduct a preliminary environmental impact assessment, including soil environment assessments, to identify and establish prevention plans for potential soil contamination factors. Furthermore, SK Gas will engage in prior communication with necessary local residents and stakeholders.
Strategies and Activities
SK Gas recognizes that while LPG storage and shipping facilities inherently pose a relatively low risk of soil contamination due to the nature of their processes, the Ulsan G-Hub site, which includes lubricant storage facilities, carries a comparatively higher risk due to the characteristics of the stored products. In response, SK Gas implements environmental management activities based on an environmental management system across all its business sites. SK Gas manages potential soil contamination incidents by conducting 24-hour CCTV monitoring of storage tanks to enable immediate response. Furthermore, each business site prevents these risks and minimizes potential damage in the event of an incident by conducting regular preventive training, installing pre-detection detectors, and establishing emergency response processes to prevent soil and marine pollution caused by chemical leaks.
Water
Policy
SK Gas deeply empathizes with the global issue of water scarcity, which is essential for business operations. Therefore, the company continuously discovers and implements water reuse and recycling solutions. SK Gas's business sites are not classified as wastewater pollutant discharge facilities under the Water Environment Conservation Act. All used water is discharged through public sewage treatment plants, and all discharged water meets legally required water quality standards. Furthermore, SK Gas strives to reduce water usage and wastewater generation by reusing some of the discarded wastewater through a reclaimed water system for recycling and efficient water usage.
Strategies and Activities
SK Gas has established a water management system to monitor water usage in its operations and manages water pollutants through various activities.
LPG Storage Water Recycling
We purify contaminated groundwater infiltrated into LPG storage facilities using our water treatment system and recycle it as fire-fighting water.
Installation of Greywater Systems
SK Gas is implementing and expanding a reclaimed water system that enables the reuse of domestic wastewater. This system has already been installed at the company's headquarters and the Pyeongtaek terminal, and plans are in place to extend its application to other business sites.
Non-Point Source Pollution Management
To prevent water pollution from stormwater runoff at Pyeongtaek Terminal and G.Hub Terminal, we have installed non-point source pollution reduction facilities to protect external water environments.
Water Pollutant Management
Due to increased methanol content in LPG from some sources, we are expanding the capacity of our Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) facilities to manage the concentration of water pollutants in cavern infiltrated water. All used water is discharged through public sewage treatment plants, and we conduct annual self-inspections to ensure compliance with legally required water quality standards.
- *MBR (Membrane Bioreactor): A water treatment method combining traditional biological treatment with membrane technology.
Metrics
SK Gas has established a goal to increase its water recycling rate to 20% by 2030. To achieve this, the company is reducing water intake by building a water management system, strengthening recycling through the introduction of reclaimed water systems, and identifying and improving leak points. These achievements and goals are transparently and publicly disclosed annually through disclosure channels such as sustainability management reports.
Biodiversity
Policy
SK Gas, as an importer and distributor of LPG and LNG, recognizes the importance of biodiversity conservation for the sustainable management of natural resources and raw materials and the preservation of natural ecosystems. Accordingly, SK Gas has designated biodiversity conservation as a key issue in its ESG management and incorporates it into all aspects of its business activities.
In conducting its business, SK Gas excludes environmental protection zones as defined by international agreements and domestic laws. When establishing new business sites, SK Gas mandatorily conducts preliminary environmental impact assessments in accordance with relevant regulations, thereby identifying and preventing soil contamination factors and biodiversity threats. Furthermore, SK Gas actively gathers opinions from local residents through public hearings and reflects them in its business operations. To enhance the effectiveness of biodiversity conservation activities, SK Gas actively participates in global initiatives and collaborates with relevant social enterprises and NGOs.
Strategies and Activities
SK Gas's storage terminals, including the Ulsan base and G-Hub, and the Pyeongtaek base, are located outside of environmental protection zones as defined by international agreements and domestic laws. When pursuing new business projects, SK Gas excludes environmental protection zones and conducts environmental impact assessments in accordance with regulations, while engaging in communication with relevant local residents and stakeholders (Ulsan GPS LNL/LPG Combined Power Plant)
SK Gas conducts biodiversity conservation activities in all regions where its business sites are located (Ulsan, Pyeongtaek, and Seongnam areas). By collaborating with national environmental agencies, local governments, regional NGOs, and social enterprises, SK Gas selects and promotes biodiversity conservation projects that are necessary for the region. SK Gas is a member of the BNBP (Biz N Biodiversity Platform), the Korean branch of the CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity), the most active global initiative aimed at protecting biodiversity.
Metrics
SK Gas has entered into an agreement with the National Institute of Ecology to implement ecological protection projects in areas surrounding its business sites and across the country. SK Gas selects target projects for each region and collaborates with regional NGOs and social enterprises, which are expert groups in ecological protection projects, to carry out regional protection initiatives. Since publishing the booklet "Meet Ulsan's Nature" in 2020 to raise awareness and protect the ecological environment of the Taehwa River in Ulsan, SK Gas has expanded its target areas to include business site locations and nationwide, and has broadened the scope of protection to include endangered flora and fauna, restoration of wildfire-affected areas, and the creation of urban ecological parks. In recognition of these biodiversity conservation efforts, SK Gas was selected as a 'Sponsor Company for Endangered Species Conservation' at the 2023 3rd Endangered Species Day Commemoration Ceremony hosted by the National Institute of Ecology.
- ● Completed
- ▶ In progress
| Category | Conservation Project | Ulsan | Pyeongtaek | Seongnam | National |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ecological Environmental Impact Risk Prevention | Soil and Marine Pollution Management | ▶ | ▶ | N/A | N/A |
| New Business Environmental Impact Assessment | ▶ | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Biodiversity Conservation Projects | Local Ecological Environment Survey & Publication/Distribution of Ecological Books | ● | ● | ● | ● (Seocheon) |
| Endangered Flora and Fauna Protection Project | ● | ● | - | - | |
| Reforestation and Urban Park Project | ▶ | - | ▶ | ||
| Participation in Ecological Protection Programs | ▶ | ▶ | - | - | |
| Ecological Education Project | ▶ | - | - | - | |
| Marine Ecosystem Conservation Projects | One Company, One Coastal Beach Protection Activities | ▶ | ▶ | - | - |