Our approach

“Samruk-Energy” JSC, as the largest multi-energy holding company, committed to the principles of sustainable development, is aware of the importance of the environmental situation in the regions where it operates and responsibility to current and future generations for the negative environmental impact of the production activities of its subsidiaries.

The company, guided by the current legislation, the concept of sustainable development, as well as best international practices, has determined for itself an environmental policy. The goals and objectives declared in the Environmental policy of “Samruk-Energy” JSC are taken into account in the Long-term Development Strategy of the Company.

The company has identified the following priority areas for development in the environmental field in accordance with the Strategy and the Environmental Policy of the Company:

1) decarbonization of economy by “Samruk-Energy” JSC, including the growth of renewable energy facilities and hydropower plants production share,  implementation of RE projects, promoting the support for clean technologies, gasification of coal departments of Almaty city’s power complex;

2) ensuring environmentally safe activities by preventing pollution and reducing the adverse environmental impact;

3) ensuring wise use of natural resources, including reducing the impact in water resources protection, incl. reducing the volume of fresh water consumption, increasing the share of reused and recycled water, minimization of wastewater discharges and the concentration of harmful substances in wastewater;

4) mitigation of environmental risks through adoption of environmentally friendly and best available techniques and technologies (installation of automated monitoring systems at emission sources at 1^st category enterprises, installation of dust collection systems at state district power plants, upgrading of equipment, maintenance of optimal operating modes, identification and prevention of potential emergencies, etc.);

5) reducing the impact on flora and fauna by improving the activities specified in environmental impact assessment;

6) improvement of activities in management of large-tonnage production and consumption wastes;

7) improving the energy efficiency of operations through development and implementation of energy conservation and energy efficiency procedures, as well as the purchase of equipment, products and services that use energy efficiently and improve energy performance;

8) performance improvement through enhancing and maintenance of the corporate governance system and its processes;

9) in its business comply with all applicable provisions and requirements established by the Republic of Kazakhstan legislation, international standards, and best world practices in environmental protection

10) increasing employees involvement and their participation in environmental protection activities;

11) taking actions aimed at reducing accidents rate;

12) development of renewable energy sources.

A responsible attitude towards environmental issues has evolved at the Company and its subsidiaries over many years of operation. Environmental assessment of the efficiency of production processes is conducted as part of industrial environmental monitoring based on measurements and calculations of the level of emissions into the environment, harmful production factors, as well as the actual volume of consumption of natural, energy and other resources.

Industrial environmental monitoring is held with the involvement of independent laboratories accredited in the manner established by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of technical regulation.

The objects of production monitoring are atmospheric air, surface and groundwater, soil.

Detailed information on environmental indicators can be found in the integrated annual reports on the results of the Company's operations

To manage the environmental aspect, the Company has established an environmental management system (EMS), which is an integral part of the corporate management system and an essential part of the non-financial risk management system. The EMS at “Samruk-Energy” JSC is constantly assessed for compliance with best international practices with the involvement of independent international consultants and is gradually improved.

All subsidiaries and affiliates of the Company engaged in production activities have adopted the ISO 14001 standard of Environmental Management System.

Total expenses and investments in environmental protection across “Samruk-Energy” JSC group of companies in 2021 amounted to about 9,1 bn. tenge.

Emergencies that caused environmental damage in 2021 were not recorded.

Biological diversity

“Samruk-Energy” JSC evaluates the “Biodiversity” aspect as significant in relation to HPP, WPP and REC. The rest of the enterprises do not directly affect the wild vegetation and wildlife because they are located within settlements or in industrial territories.

Thus, “Samruk-Energy” JSC subsidiaries operations may have a negative impact on the ornithological fauna, fish fauna and other freshwater ecosystems, as well as on the flora and fauna of coastal zones.

An environmental impact assessment including on the flora and fauna is performed in order to minimize this impact at planning production activities. The EIA procedure is regulated by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Monitoring of the impact on the flora and fauna in the course of further operation of enterprises is also regulated.

Yet the stage of design of wind power plants involves the reduction of their environmental impact - given that light pollution leads to disruption of the biorhythms of living creatures, nighttime wind turbine lighting is minimized up to the use of only sidelights.

To minimize the cases of death of birds on overhead lines from electric shock, lines are reconstructed by equipping with insulated wires (SIW).

To reduce the impact on water and terrestrial (coastal) ecosystems, the operating modes of hydropower plants are agreed with the Committee for Water Resources of the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, mayor administrations, as well as with the management of SPNR (for example, in the case of Moynak HPP).  Obtaining the approval for water releases from authorized bodies is also peformed in the interests of agricultural land users, since the purpose of HPP is not only energy production, but also irrigation, flood control and water supply. This measure aims to prevent and adapt to the effects of climate change. All hydropower plants are equipped with fish protection devices. In addition, on the recommendation of Kazakh Research Institute of Fisheries, as a fish protection measure, the surface of the water at night is illuminated by spotlights near the water intake in front of the turbine water conduits, thus light spots scares the fish. The movement of fish occurs through bends for idle spillway (IS).

Visual field observations were introduced at HPP and WPP to monitor the impact on the plant and animal world.

In 2021, “Samruk-Energy” JSC did not operate in territories that have any special sanitary or environmental regime or the status of specially protected natural territories.

Сollaboration

“Samruk-Energy” JSC pays special attention to new technologies:

By the order of “Samruk-Energy” JSC, a scientific laboratory “Clean Coal Technologies” was established at the premises of Nazarbayev University IEO;

Participation in national and international projects / initiatives / associations

1) The company is a member of the ALE "Kazakhstan Electricity Association".

2) The company is a member of the ALE "Kazakhstan Association of Oil Gas And Energy Sector Organizations  “Kazenergy"

The Company developed internal corporate standards and adopted them for implementation in order to improve the efficiency of occupational safety management system:

- occupational health and safety policy;

- rules for providing information in case of emergence of accidents;

- subsidiaries and affiliates of the Company are certified in accordance with the requirements of OHSAS 18001.

“ Samruk-Energy” JSC is committed to leadership in the field of occupational health and safety.

The Company’s management is aware that the main resource is People. Effective implementation of occupational health and safety policy in terms of improving working conditions, introducing the new advanced technologies, quality training of employees is the key to the success of not only the Company, but also the welfare of Our Republic.

The Company is obliged to comply with the RK legislation requirements in the field of occupational safety and health, as well as international OHS standards.

As part of the transformation program, the project SKE.06 “Introduction of the new integrated security management model” has been effectively implemented since 2017

The Project goals:

• enhancing safety culture / staff involvement in labor protection issues;

• a decrease in injury rates (LTIFR, LDR) by 30% within 5 years after the project implementation;
• improving the Efficiency Assessment of the OSH management system.

The following standards were developed as part of the Project:

• SE-ST-01-01  Golden safety rules;
• SE-ST-02-01 “Motivation of staff to safe behavior”;
• SE-ST-03-01 "Risk assessment of IS,OS, RS, EP";
• SE-ST-04-01 "Evaluation of labor and environmental protection system management by decision makers";
• SE-ST-05-01 "Conductin a leadership behavioral security audit";
• SE-ST-06-01 "Incident Accounting and Investigation";

One of the key activities of the Project is to change the safety culture of employees and prevent hazardous situations when the staff performs works at the workplace, as well as introduction of developed corporate standards. The application of the standards, procedures and methods implemented within the Project will prevent and reduce the recurrence of accidents.

Project SKE.01.02.P "Safe production":

A pilot project SKE.01.02.P “Safe production” has been launched at “Samruk-Energy” JSC group of companies starting from October 2020, which is aimed at reducing workplace injuries by introducing an automated system for registering and recording all incidents and inconsistencies.

The organizational perimeter of the project includes "Ekibastuz GRES-2 Plant" JSC, "Almaty Power Plants" JSC and  "Ekibastuz GRES-1"LLP.

The project is implemented on ASPANS cloud platform and represents an information system "Safe production", consisting of six main modules: "Defect and events register", "Leadership behavioral safety audit", “Operational supervision","Training control","Works safety analysis” and “Electronic job order”.

The main task of the project is to transfer labor protection and safety (HSE) processes to online mode in the "Safe Production" information system.

To date, three phases of the project “Project launch”, “Conceptual design” and “Implementation” have been successfully implemented and closed. In October-November 2020, in-person training was conducted for all key users of the information system - employees of “Ekibastuz GRES-2 Plant” JSC, “Almaty Power Plants” JSC and “Ekibastuz GRES-1” LLP.

The commissioning of information system “Safe production” is planned in March 2021 at SA included in the organizational perimeter.

At the end of June 2021, the implementation of the pilot project will be completed and the results will be summed up.

Achievements of the Company in the field of occupational safety

The Company's top management is aware that in order to increase the effectiveness of the implementation of goals and objectives of the current policy, it is necessary to increase the level of involvement of executive staff of subsidiaries and affiliates by demonstrating personal commitment to health and safety issues.

There are Committees for occupational health and safety and environmental protection under the Management Board and the Board of Directors at the Company and subsidiaries and affiliates.  The purpose of the committees is to ensure the development of recommendations by the Board of Directors on occupational and environmental issues, including the development of activities aimed at the improvement of the Company's performance in the long term.

The following activities have been implemented:

• a system of transparent registration of accidents at work;
• system of individual responsibility (security coupons);
• leadership behavioral safety audits;
• identification of hazards and assessment of the significance of risks;
• Committees for occupational health and safety and environmental protection under the Management Board and the Board of Directors were established;
• mechanisms on rewarding employees for reporting potential incidents were developed;
• In 2019, a moratorium on taking disciplinary actions for occurred accidents was introduced (“Kazmunaygas” NC JSC experience);
• conducting internal investigations of accidents in order to identify the root causes of the events that have occurred;
• recording and investigating potentially dangerous incidents that have not yet led to accidents;
• trainings / seminars, training on corporate standards for employees of subsidiaries and affiliates of the Company;
• on-site seminars-conferences on occupational safety and health at production facilities with specialists from departments responsible for occupational safety issues in subsidiaries and affiliates of the Company;
• training of senior managers and OHS specialists at IOSH, NEBOSH courses.

Workplace injury rate statistics

The Company takes all necessary actions on implementing the tasks set, whilst implementing the best world practices. The implementation of the above projects currently shows intermediate results in terms of accidents / registered workplace accidents. Injury statistics for the period from 2010 to 9 months of 2020 are shown in the graphic image.

Events

“Samruk-Energy” JSC, as part of Transformation Program, is working on changing business processes aimed at reducing injury rate and improving its incident and injury free culture.

“Samruk-Energy” JSC implements a pilot project “Safe operation” at its subsidiaries and affiliates. It is based on the principles of the Vision Zero Concept, adopted by the International Social Security Association in 2017.

The Safe Operation project involves digitization of technological and managerial processes for occupational safety and health, which allows executives to receive transparent data and make decisions in a timely manner.

First off, the project’s implementation will allow managing risks, planning inspections, conducting incident investigations and tracking the elimination of violations at an organization in a single information system.

As of today, on October 22 this year, "eCapital" LLP representatives completed training of “Ekibastuz SDPP-1 named after Bulat Nurzhanov” LLP key employees to work in the system and operation began in test mode. Similar training will be conducted at"Station Ekibastuzs SDPP-2" JSC, "Almaty Power Plants" JSC.

Situation with COVID-19 and measures taken by OSHandEPD

At all SA:

1. Prompt response staff offices were established due to aggravation of epidemiological situation.

2. The action plan for preventing the spread of coronavirus infection has been developed.

3. The “Procedure for preventing the spread of coronavirus infection" has been developed.

4. World Health Organization recommendations on protection against new coronavirus infection were sent to SA employees.

5. Premises, door handles, tables and other furniture are regularly cleaned with the use of disinfectants, working premises, including means of transportation are aired.  

6. Employees always wear protective masks.

7. The number of business visitors is limited.

8. All staff is admitted to work with the use of non-contact thermal imager.

9. Employees with respiratory diseases symptoms are not permitted to work.

10. All cultural events were cancelled.

11. Hand sanitizers were placed in the offices of all entities.

12. Business trips of employees were canceled.

13. The personnel was partially was switched to remote working.

14. The heads of structural units of enterprises conduct a conversation about measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection, as well as explanatory work on compliance with quarantine requirements.

15. Constant liaison with relevant government agencies for identifying the contact circle of individuals who were infected (if necessary).

Development of energy conversation and energy efficiency

In accordance with the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Energy Conservation and Increasing Energy Efficiency”, energy audits are conducted at all subsidiaries and affiliates of the Company that are subjects of the State Energy Register, with the involvement of specialized accredited organizations.

The program of energy conservation and energy efficiency improvement in “Samruk-Energy” JSC group of companies for 2015-2025 has been developed. The aim of the Program is to develop measures for wise and economically feasible use of fuel and energy resources.

Ensuring the implementation of organizational and technical activities aimed at energy conservation and energy efficiency improvement in accordance with the approved action plans for energy conservation and energy efficiency improvement of “Samruk-Energy” JSC subsidiaries and affiliates.

Launch of the concept of managing SA, based on the constant pursuit of eliminating losses, streamlining of operating cycle, and lean production.

63 activities aimed at energy conservation and energy efficiency improvement   were implemented over last year, which allowed saving 523 thousand tons of standard fuel across “Samruk-Energy” JSC group of companies.

According to the 2021 results, the energy intensity of the gross commodity product across “Samruk-Energy” JSC group of companies amounted to 27,8 t.s.f / mln.tenge and decreased by 1,0 % compared to the previous year owing to the implementation of energy conservation and improvement of energy efficiency activities. 

Experimental research on firing high-ash Ekibastuz coal and its by-products in a complex fluidized bed and circulating fluidized bed plant was carried out in cooperation with Nazarbayev University.  The data that confirm the possibility of efficient combustion of these coals in CB and CFB: reduction of fuel consumption and emissions into atmosphere in comparison with traditional coal combustion. Technical proposals for the concept of industrial and power boilers with CB and CFB for these coals were developed.

Our approach

Interaction with stakeholders is essential for “Samruk-Energy” JSC operations. The goal of interaction is to choose the right strategic development of the Company by improving its operations, as well as to assist it in achieving a level of sustainable development which will provide the Company and its stakeholders, and society with benefit.

The Company's principles of interaction with stakeholders:

- respect and consideration of interests, opinions and preferences of stakeholders;

-timely and regular provision of stakeholders with information;

-responsible performance of commitments.

Note: The circumference indicates the degree of interaction of the сompany with stakeholders. The smallest circle size shows a limited level of interaction. As the size of the circle increases, so does the degree of interaction.

“Samruk-Energy” JSC stakeholder engagement plan

Grievance and Proposals Mechanism

Taking into account the needs, expectations, suggestions and opinions of stakeholders is one of significant factors in ensuring the sustainable development of the Company. “Samruk-Energy” JSC is committed to constantly improve the efficiency of communication with all stakeholders.

To improve interaction, we introduced Feedback monitoring, which allows responding to complaints and suggestions of all stakeholders at the “Samruk-Energy” JSC group of companies.

For these purposes, we have organized the following channels of communication on economic, environmental and social issues:

• Hotline – https://www.samruk-energy.kz/en/hotline
• Feedback – https://www.samruk-energy.kz/en/feedback-all
• Contacts mentioned on the website - https://www.samruk-energy.kz/en/company/contact

These inquiries were analyzed in terms of the aspects involved, identifying the regions with the highest number of appeals, categories of persons who submitted appeals to “Samruk-Energy” JSC group of companies, statistics on the subject of appeals and analysis of complaints. Each complaint has been assigned a category.

The results of the analysis of inquiries received are communicated to the Board of Directors. Actions aimed at improvement of activities of “Samruk-Energy” JSC group of companies are developed on the basis of results of complaints and proposals monitoring.

QUESTIONNAIR

Dear reader!

We would appreciate it if you learn about the Annual report on the Company’s operating results for 2019 and complete the questionnaire on identification of relevant topics in order to cover them in the next “Samruk-Energy” JSC annual report. Your feedback is very important to us!

Link to the questionnaire

10 principles of the UN Global Compact

In 2011, the Company declared its commitment to follow the 10 principles of the UN Global Compact in its strategy and day-to-day operations and is a member of UN Global Compact.

The company assumed the implementation of following principles:

As part of its accession to the UN Global Compact, the Company annually publishes Progress Report, which it posts on its website https://www.unglobalcompact.org/ and on the corporate website of the Company Report on the progress achieved by “Samruk-Energy” JSC for 2021.

Women’s empowerment principles

On March 8, 2019, “Samruk-Energy” JSC signed a statement supporting the 7 Women's Empowerment Principles.

This document determines the commitment to gender equality principles as a key element of sustainable development, as well as the conviction that companies, which provide equal opportunities for women and men, are more successful and achieve better results. The Company implements the Action Plan in order to accomplish the goal set.

The document developed at the initiative of the UN Women's Partnership and the UN Global Compact, identifies seven principles that contribute to the empowerment of women in the workplace, in business and in society:

As of today, circa 4600 women work at the largest Kazakhstani power holding company. More than 630 of them are in decision-making positions.

Our approach

Social responsibility is an integral part of “Samruk-Energy” JSC development strategy, since we are aware of our contribution to social development. Social corporate responsibility projects are aimed at ensuring safe and comfortable working conditions.

Human Resources Department works on the followings tasks in line with social responsibility:

• Creation of favorable environment for employees;
• Retention of internal talents and recruitment of highly qualified staff;
• Ensuring social guarantees and social stability at the Company

The Company is committed to:

• Reinforce and promote the principles of social partnership and collective bargaining regulation;
• Make welfare payments in order to retain, attract qualified employees and create motivation for “Samruk-Energy” JSC staff.
• Improvement of social stability;
• Involved top management. Building a high-potential pool of successors for key positions;
• Enhancing the Employer brand.

“Samruk-Energy” JSC group of companies strives to provide a competitive social package, the availability of which allows attracting highly competitive candidates from external market. Compensation and benefits are designed to improve the welfare and level of social protection of employees and their families. The number of social payments and benefits provided to employees of the Company’s Group in accordance with signed collective agreements include:

• financial assistance for health care provided at vacation, for the birth of a child;
• financial assistance for burial (an employee and immediate relatives), for the treatment of retired employees, for emergency situations, etc.
• financial assistance in connection with loss of income (registration of maternity leave or leave due to the adoption of a newborn child);
• voluntary health insurance;
• health resort treatment
• a one-time incentive payment in connection with employees anniversary celebration (50, 60 and 70 years);
• expenses for holding festive, cultural and sports events;
• payment of loans;
• allowance for injury and loss of primary income earner;
• New Year's gifts to children, etc.

The annual measurement of indicators of social stability and employee involvement allows taking timely measures on increasing employee loyalty and trust, social welfare, and employee involvement, improving working conditions and processes associated with staff work, developing communication systems and informing about any changes.

 In 2020, the methodology for determining the engagement index and social stability rating was updated. The purpose of updating the methodology is to increase the practical significance of results and the value of recommendations to ensure social stability in a team.

In 2021 the study was conducted by telephone survey within Samruk Research Services platform.

According to the research results for 2021, the Social Stability Index across the Company’s group was 76%*.

The indicator of the survey of administrative and management staff engagement across the Company’s group in 2021 amounted to 83%, in the stable zone, which has not changed in comparison with 2020.

Our activity

Social corporate responsibility projects aim to provide safe and comfortable working environment, professional development, address housing issues and improve the quality of life of employees and their families, financial support for veterans and pensioners, and support for social communities.

“Samruk-Energy” JSC is one of major employers in the Republic of Kazakhstan. As of December 31, 2021, the headcount of  “Samruk-Energy” JSC group of companies amounted to 17 645 people.

In connection with the production specifics of the Company’s operations, male employees are involved in the main production areas, whose share of the total staff in 2021 amounted to 74%.

“Samruk-Energy” JSC implements the following activities for health improvement purposes and in order to arrange leisure for employees:

• the provision of additional days to paid annual labor leave for years of employment;
• carrying out physical fitness work and the development of mass sports among employees and members of their families, providing them with access to sports infrastructure, organizing training and competitions;
• regular promotion of healthy lifestyle among employees using corporate media;
• the annual allocation of funds for cultural events, purchase of New Year's gifts, purchase of valuable gifts on Power Engineer’s Day;
• the organization of leisure activities for school-age children during the summer holidays at health camps or health and recreation resorts of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
• partial compensation for the cost of trips to health camps and children's health centers for children with disabilities and orphans for employees of the Company.

Moreover, Conciliation Committees have been established and operate at “Samruk-Energy” JSC group of companies; they comprise representatives from the employer and representatives of trade union workers, and their main roles are conducting of explanatory works among staff, consideration of complaints and appeals.

Sponsorship and charity

the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Charity” entered into force on November 28, 2015, and amendments were made to the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Sovereign Wealth Fund”, according to which, the implementation of charity activity of Sovereign Wealth Fund “Samruk-Kazyna” JSC (hereinafter – the Fund) and its SA is possible if the Fund’s Board of Directors approves and develops the Charity Program. The Charity Policy of the Fund and the Charity Program of the Fund were approved by the resolution of the Fund’s Board of Directors No. 126 dated January 28, 2016.  

In November 2015, the Fund announced a moratorium on independent sponsorship and charity activities at SA. According to the new model, a single Operator – Social Projects Development Fund “Samruk-Kazyna Trust” implements all charity and sponsorship activities including those for organizing, holding and supporting conferences, forums, round tables, publishing activities financially as part of strengthening labor and interethnic relations, and investments in sustainable development.

For all inquiries regarding the provision of sponsorship, please contact the Social Projects Development Fund "Samruk-Kazyna Trust" located at:  Nur-Sultan,  17/10, Syganak str., 11th floor, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +7 (7172) 57 68 98.

Documents for the section:

Charity policy of the Foundation

Charity program of the Foundation