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Environmental Management

Commitment

Target of operation in eco-efficiency is aligned with other environmental management of the company such as Environmental Impact Assessment report and Environmental Monitoring and Auditing Program Report (EIA and EM&A), ISO 14001, Emission Control and Waste Reduction and Green Factory. This leads to good environmental workplaces to surrounding communities and employees in order to running business operation along with sustainability of environment and society.

GPSC group's environmental management system follows PTT group (parental company) SSHE management standard to operate responsibly through the implementation of SSHE management system in line with international standards.

PTT Group SSHE Management Standards
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GPSC Group Quality, Security, Safety, Health

GPSC recognizes that electricity and steam generation processes can have a negative impact on human health in the community and the environment without the use of proper control measures. For this reason, GPSC has announced quality, security, occupational health and environmental policies, in order for the company to strive to develop its operations more efficiently and towards continual improvement, as well as to strive for excellence to be well accepted by all stakeholders, while also creating sustainability in its operations of the power and utility business.

GPSC Group Quality, Security, Safety, Health and Environment Policy
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Quality, Security, Safety, Health and Environment (QSHE) Governance Structure

GPSC Group manages environmental performances under Quality, Security, Safety, Health and Environment (QSHE) policy, which is under supervision by GPSC Group’s Board of Directors (BODs) and Management Committee (MC). The implementations are carried out by several departments to ensure effective implementation across the group. The overall roles and responsibilities can be summarized as follow:

Board of Directors Management Committee QSHE Aspects Quality Management System Aspects Corporate Social Responsibility Aspects

Board of Directors (BOD)

Board of Directors are responsible for reviewing and approving GPSC Group' s key strategies, policies, objectives, action plans, and financial goals so that such plans are carried out in accordance with the prescribed directions and strategies. Board of Directors are taken roles to oversee the performance for Quality, Security, Safety, Health and Environment (QSHE) and the related issues including biodiversity and deforestation aspects. The performances are reported to Board of Directors for on a quarterly basis.

Management Committee (MC)

GPSC Group Management Committee is responsible for monitoring and driving of business operations in accordance with the prescribed directions and strategies as well as managing key obstacles and risks, which might affect business operations. In addition, the roles and responsibilities of MC are to provide recommendations to President and Chief Executive Officer in order to make decisions on important issues and plans as well as managing the working system with the same direction and to scrutinize the risk management of the company. From this aspects, MC takes roles to oversees and provide directions for the implementation of Quality, Security, Safety, Health and Environment (QSHE) and the related issues in which they receive regular update on a weekly basis.

Security, Safety, Health and Environment (SSHE)

Security, Safety, Health and Environment (SSHE) Department has role and responsibilities for the development of standards, tools, operational guidelines related to quality, security, safety, health and environment (QSHE) as well as conveying and providing advice to GPSC Group and its subsidiaries for implementing QSHE related aspects and policy. The responsibilities also include planning, supporting and providing support to ensure that company comply with the standards, tools, laws and regulations. SSHE department takes role to implement several aspects at GPSC’s operations such as occupational health & personal safety, process safety and security, emergency management, productivity improvement, quality enhancement, environmental management and biodiversity-related issues. Lastly, this department takes role to disseminate measures to raise internal and external stakeholders’ awareness of QSHE-related aspects and its impacts.

Corporate Quality Management System

Corporate Quality Management System Department is responsible for developing the policies, strategies, guidelines, standards, working procedure and tools as well as following up on the quality system across operations of GPSC Group in order to ensuring compliance with the relevant QSHE law and regulations.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate Social Responsibility Department is responsible for corporate social responsibility, social enterprise implementation, managing of local stakeholders and external agencies relationship and maintain company good reputation, in accordance with GPSC Group’s strategy and direction. This department is also responsible to carry out biodiversity and reforestation initiatives in the local operations in line with company commitment.

Environmental Management Strategy

GPSC is committed to conducting business with social and environmental responsibility under the strategy "Innovative & Sustainable Power for all", which applies sustainability principles (Sustainability Management Framework) and 3D Principles of Energy Transition, including decentralization, decarbonization and digitization, which is a framework for delivering environmentally friendly energy through a circular economy in an efficient manner

Organizational Waste Management chart

Waste Management

Input Activity Waste generated Management approach Audit approach
Coal
Combustion processes to produce electricity and steam. NOx
  • Low NOX burner
  • Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR)
  • Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction (SNCR)
  • Use of Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems: CEMS.
  • Conducting stack sampling measurements every 6 months.
  • Inspection of the air quality in the area inside and outside of the workplace according to legal criteria and the environmental impact prevention and correction measures every 6 months.
SOX
  • Limestone Injection, Seawater Flue Gas Desulfurization (SW-FGD)
Dust and mercury
  • Use Bituminous Coal (Low Impurities), Bag Filter, ESP
  • Fly ash
  • Heavy ash
  • Bag Filter, ESP
  • Imported as an alternative raw material for the manufacture of cement or.
  • Installation of heavy ash reuse systems, which can reduce heavy ash generated in the amount of 120 tons per year and reduce the accumulated sand sludge in the furnace of the CFB1 unit by up to 15 tons per month.
  • Preparation of a record regarding the amount of waste generated and sent for disposal, by an external organization on a monthly basis.
  • Report preparation summarizing the waste caused by the production process and hazardous waste requested for removal to the Department of Industrial Works every year.
Natural gas
Combustion processes to produce electricity and steam. NOx
  • Steam Injection System
  • Low NOx Burner System
  • Use of Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems: CEMS.
  • Monitoring of air quality from stack
  • Conducting stack sampling measurements every 6 months.
TSP
  • Steam Injection System
  • Low NOx Burner System
Water from outside suppliers
  • Cooling process
  • Steam production process
  • Mineral water production system
  • Condensate water quality improvement unit
  • Sea water through a "Once through cooling system"
  • Wastewater from production processes
 Sea water
  • Regular inspection of the seawater pumping point to ensure the seawater pumping equipment and the aquaculture net to be in good working order.
  • Install a device to measure the temperature and residual chlorine of sea water after cooling to be careful not to exceed the standard of wastewater from the production process.
  • Reuse the effluent from the sludge dewatering system directly.
  • Reuse wastewater (RO Reject) in the industrial water production system.
  • Water from the coal yard and other wastewater are treated and collected in the pond before being recycled to spray onto coal piles to remove coal dust.
  • Send treatment at the center of the settlement.
  • Treat to achieve standard values and pass the criteria to then release back into natural water sources.
  • Seawater temperature checking in the cooling system prior to releasing this back into the sea. The GPSC group has installed a seawater temperature measurement device, which will work continuously to constantly display this value in the control room of the power plant. An aquatic breeding project in collaboration with fishery groups and local scholars was also conducted.
  • Water quality check on a monthly basis in accordance with the measures listed in the EIA and EHIA reports.
Water from natural sources, such as sea water
(for cooling and desalination processes in case of a drought)
Lubricant
Machine maintenance process Used lubricants, such as engine and transmission oils
  • Establish an agreement with the distribution company to reuse and recycle.
  • Send an agency that has been authorized by the government for further proper disposal.
  • Preparation of a record regarding the amount of waste generated and sent for disposal, by an external organization on a monthly basis.
  • Prepaparation of a report summarizing the waste caused by the production process and hazardous waste with requested permission to be removed to the Department of Industrial Works annually.
Chemicals, such as resins, hypochlorites and others
Machinery maintenance and pollution treatment processes Used chemicals and waste water contaminated containers
  • Establish an agreement with the distribution company to reuse and recycle.
  • Deliver the wastewater treatment at the center of the settlement.
  • Treat wastewater to standards, then pass the criteria to release back into natural water sources.
  • Send an agency that has been authorized by the government for further proper disposal.

Environmental Management Guidelines

GRI 103-2

GPSC values investment in technology to improve the efficiency of production processes. It develops an action plan to continuously reduce air pollutants, such as oxides of nitrogen (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), and total suspended particles (TSPs). It focuses on strict control, surveillance, and monitoring of the quantity of air pollutants from sources in line with the control measure recommendations described in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report and Environmental and Health Impact Assessment (EHIA) Report with strict actions as follows:

  • Used low-nitrogen oxide burners to reduce nitrogen oxide emission from both combustion chambers of gas turbines and pulverized coal-fired boilers
  • At GPSC's coal-fired power plants, quality bituminous coal is used with less than 1% sulfur. In addition, the limestone spraying technology is used in the Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB), and a Seawater Flue Gas Desulfurization System (FGD) is installed with Pulverized Coal-Fired Boilers
  • Installed TSPs with bag filter and impurity elimination systems such as mercury and a Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) power plant Installed Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (CEMs) at chimneys to continuously monitor air emissions. Real-time air quality data are displayed in front of power plants
  • Conducted air quality monitoring every six months by a central agency registered with relevant government agencies
  • Created a tree buffer line (protection strip) around the sites to confine the dispersion of air pollutants to the external environment

In addition to complying with various laws and regulations as defined in the EIA and EHIA reports, the GPSC group also adopted international standards for environmental management.

GRI 306-1, 306-2

GPSC is committed to minimizing waste generated from processes because it denotes production efficiency, mitigation of environmental impacts, and reduced waste treatment costs. For these reasons, GPSC adheres to the principle of 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) by minimizing waste at the sources. When waste is generated, GPSC will first reuse or recycle it. This results in so much continuous waste reduction to landfill that GPSC had achieved the goal of zero-waste disposal to landfill since 2019. At present, waste generated from production, maintenance, and other activities is managed effectively in compliance with international standards to prevent potential impacts on the environment and surrounding communities.

Visual representation of results

In addition, GPSC regularly enforces, monitors, and audits waste management by all power plants, starting from collection, storage, and transport of waste including solar cells from its operation, treatment, to disposal to ensure compliance with procedures and industrial waste management regulations to prevent environmental impacts. GPSC has also raised environmental awareness among contractors, partners, and customers by implementing the "Industrial Waste Management Process" at all power plants. Contractors must hold valid licenses from applicable authorities before the transport of all types of waste and surplus materials from the power plants.

GPSC implements procedures to evaluate and approve the disposal facilities for both toxic and non-toxic waste before it leaves the power plants every time as well as complying with the Factory Act and the Hazardous Substance Act under the Ministry of Industry. In addition, through regular hazardous waste manifest audit of the waste disposal contractors, GPSC ensures that all waste, including unused materials, solar cells, and hazardous waste from production processes, is accounted for without unauthorized treatment and disposal, as well as the preparation of the Form Sor Kor 3, which is the annual report summarizing the amount of waste that GPSC ships and disposes of every year to confirm compliance with relevant regulations.

GRI 303-1, 303-2
Water management outside GPSC

GPSC manages external water by actively participating in the PTT Group Water Management Task Force, which holds monthly meetings. Each meeting addresses the water situation report from the survey and analysis of the water situation model, consequently formulating a water management plan, guidelines for monitoring water management targets, risk reduction, assessing impacts of water use in all operating areas, and finally communicating to responsible business units for efficient implementation of plans.

The PTT Group Water Management Task Force also participates in the Water Management Working Group of the Eastern Region of Rayong. The working group, made up of governmental agencies, East Water Plc, and representatives from the private sector, monitors, assesses, analyzes the water situation, and maps out measures to reduce risks and impacts promptly.

The company systematically monitors the use of water inside and outside the organization. The quality of effluent is regularly assessed to ensure that the quality of the water discharged from the operation is safe for the local community and meets the required legal standards. In addition, the company, together with the water management team of the PTT Group organizes monthly meetings to analyze the local water situation and set up a water management and monitoring plan based on the survey, water situation analysis, and water reports. For external monitoring, the company, together with the water management team of the PTT Group and the Eastern Water Management Team in Rayong Province holds monthly meetings to monitor, evaluate, and analyze current water situations (e.g., reservoir water levels, water shortages, and drought situations) to formulate water management plans, monitor, and schedule timely risk mitigation measures. For example, the Company measured the amount of water available in Dok Krai Reservoir, Nong Pla Lai, and Khlong Yai, which are the three primary water sources for use in industries where the company's water suppliers receive quota allocations from the Department of Irrigation. It then used the water content of the three water sources to predict future availability in each situation while developing a water management plan based on the forecast results. Moreover, the Company has an estimate of the financial, operations, and social impact by analyzing it from different situations which are conflict, conflicts that may occur, and no conflicts. As a result, net profit varies at different rates according to the situation.

Water management within GPSC

GPSC clearly expresses its intention in internal water management to maximize the benefit of water usage with the community. By following the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), GPSC manages internal water usage efficiently by reducing usage in power generation, recycling water from the cooling system for further use with wastewater from boilers, and reuse of condensed water in steam production processes.

In addition, GPSC continues to regularly monitor the quality of water discharged into the environment to ensure that the water that leaves the operation of GPSC is safe for the communities and complies with legal standards

Since GPSC does not draw water directly from natural sources, there is no impact from the operation. However, it continues monitoring waters in all surrounding areas. GPSC also continues monitoring the water quality before discharging it into the industrial estate's central water treatment system and natural waterways to ensure that the quality of effluents from the processes meets the standards required by law and local authorities. Based on the data, it was concluded that the quality of effluents was better than applicable standards in every facility. As for each solar power plant, water is used to clean dust from solar panels. The used and non-contaminated water is discharged on the ground.

The company monitors changes in local water regulations in cooperation with PTT Group as a member of the PTT Group Water Management Team The team is responsible for monitoring and checking the availability of water (such as water scarcity and drought issues) in the operation area, as well as changes in local customs regulations and rates. The Company participates in meetings with the Water War Room in Rayong Province and the Industry Council, which monitors water management issues, including changes in local and national regulations. The latest version of the water-related regulations is the Water Resources Act, which was effective in2019. This Act establishes the management of water resources, water allocation, prevention and mitigation of floods, conservation and development of water resources, civil liability, and duties of the relevant agencies. However, the company has analyzed the situation and found the potential impact of regulations or tariffs changes on local operations. The company determines that changes in water supply rates and effluent standards may result in higher operating costs. Despite that, the cost of water per unit of production is relatively low compared to the price of the product; therefore, the price of the company's product is not affected by such changes.

Water management to prevent risks in water stressed areas

GPSC uses the Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas tool of the World Resources Institute agency or WRI to identify areas with risk of water scarcity (Water Stress Area) and set guidelines for water management outside all areas of operation. There is a risk assessment in the water stress area in all areas of operation. It was found that the operating area with water use is not located in a high-level Water Stress Area which may cause risks and conflicts in water use at the local level

GPSC systematically monitors existing stakeholder conflicts through water suppliers (East Water) and industrial estates. For the GPSC situation, the Royal Irrigation Department is responsible for allocating and prioritizing tap water quotas for the agricultural, community, and industrial sectors, respectively. GPSC, therefore, uses water according to the existing quota allocated to the industry. GPSC also systematically monitors local stakeholder conflicts through tripartite meetings, community attitudes & satisfaction surveys, and community visits. In 2021, GPSC has no complaints about stakeholder conflicts related to water usage. GPSC water management team assesses the water level in the reservoir weekly to closely monitor the situation of water and drought to prevent water scarcity and conflicts among local community stakeholders

GPSC estimates potential future stakeholder conflicts by proceeding with conflicts with stakeholders (local community) on water usage. Potential stakeholder conflicts were analyzed based on three different scenarios: "Conflict," "Potential Conflict," and "No Conflict". The assessment revealed that no stakeholder conflict in the local community in the past and GPSC could manage the water scarcity problem in 2005, 2015 and 2020 without affecting local stakeholders. However, strong cooperation with external water sources networks, such as PTT Group and external water management team is the key to managing the allocation of water resources to water users as well as the implementation of various mitigation measures. This is to prevent future stakeholder conflicts through water management plans and community programs. GPSC takes active engagement with key stakeholders by taking into account the level of stakeholder interest/influence and engagement. GPSC creates active engagement with key stakeholders such as municipalities, local authorities, NGOs, the media, and local communities, for example, for high-impact communities, GPSC will actively engage with the community to receive concerns and suggestions on a regular basis and have a comprehensive involvement with the local community to meet their needs and concerns and also works closely with local authorities and monitors the amount of water that can be used more often. GPSC has participated in an integrated watershed management program in key operational locations under the project "Build a check dam", which has been in operation for 6 consecutive years. This project aims to restore water resources, improve the quality of watersheds and ecosystem management in the community forest. The results of the project made it possible to increase the retention time of water velocity in water bodies as well as soil conservation, improvement of soil fertility, etc. In the event of a water crisis, GPSC will provide reverse osmosis water (Sea RO water) to the local community as a renewable water resource. Moreover, future involvement may have the potential to strategically address stakeholder concerns.

GPSC manages the environment in accordance with the policy of quality, security, occupational health and environment in order to achieve continuous development in environmental operations, while also meeting expectations of stakeholders in a sustainable manner. GPSC also sets the direction for environmental management operations that cover all departments throughout the value chain and all business process from the planning and design phase, until the completion of projects, with the group establishing the following guidelines:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

1. Performance audit by international accreditation bodies

2. Excellence in ecological efficiency guaranteed by the Ecological Factory Program (Eco Factory)

GPSC realizes environmental friendly operations for sustainable development with a focus on the development and improvement of the production processes and environmental management on the basis of social responsibility, both inside and outside of the organization continuously throughout the value chain. As a result of this concrete commitment, all key establishments of the GPSC group have received the Eco Factory project certification from the Industrial Environment Institute and the Federation of Thai Industries.

3. Measures for prevention and reduction of environmental impacts consistent with the EIA report (Environmental Impact Assessment)

GPSC's establishments and business projects have an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report before statutory project commencement. The environmental impact assessment is the use of academic principles to forecast both positive and negative impacts from projects that may occur to the environment and the community. The main objective is to ensure that the impacts that may arise from the project. It has been carefully considered at the planning and decision-making stages of various aspects related to project implementation. The GPSC group also implements environmental impact prevention and mitigation measures and in parallel, stated in the Environmental Impact Assessment report to achieve efficient operation. The content of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report covers environmental quality monitoring such as air quality, noise level, water quality, and occupational health and safety of employees, etc.

GPSC Environmental Impact Assessment Report can be searched at

Read More

4. Systematic and effective communication of environmental issues

GPSC conducts an effective and systematic communication of environmental issues to stakeholders in accordance with the GPSC group's Quality, Security, Occupational Health and Environmental Communication Manual.

5. Environmental quality control

Monitoring and investigating substandard actions or conditions, near accidents, accidents or unusual events. The GPSC group has implemented a systematic approach that includes management approaches from the receiving of a situation or incident, to identifying the cause or defect, as well as creating a remediation plan and ongoing monitoring.

6. Building a culture of environmental management

The GPSC group has undertaken activities in building an environmental management culture, to raise awareness of workers and manage the environment according to the guidelines strictly set by GPSC, by regularly sharing information or offering lessons on environmental management at the supervisor level of each plant and communicating the issues of environmental management within the organization through the Intranet system and various sign boards within the workplace.

Performance year 2021

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS Performance Targets
2021 2021 2022
Hazardous waste to landfill (%) 0% to landfill 0% to landfill 0% to landfill
ISO 14001:2015 certification To maintain the ISO 14001: 2015 standard To maintain the ISO 14001: 2015 standard To maintain the ISO 14001: 2015 standard
Number of violations of legal obligations/regulations (case) 0 0 0
Updated as of February 2022

The content above is based on sustainability reporting standards by The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI Standards) and externally validated and verified for accuracy of the reporting data at "Limited Assurance" level.

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