Grievances
GRI Disclosures:
Capitals:
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103-2
In 2021, 36 complaints regarding environmental impacts were filed with the Environmental Inspection System of the PKN ORLEN production plant in Płock.
They concerned odour nuisance and were resolved in accordance with systematic internal procedures.
Information on the complaints was submitted to the relevant administration authorities. Most of the complaints were registered when production units were shut down for maintenance work and preparation for process start-ups, which involved emptying and blowing apparatuses, as well as steam cleaning of individual systems containing mixtures of hydrocarbons. As part of the complaint resolution process, measurements were taken with portable devices at the location of the reported nuisance, and the relevant unit’s operation was checked for potential causes of odour nuisance in the production, repair and maintenance processes. Such action was not taken in the case of two complaints, as it was decided, based on the wind direction and large distance, that the nuisance could not originate from PKN ORLEN’s facilities. In the case of two further complaints, the sources of nuisance were identified outside the plant – the cause was burning leaves and work on sewer manholes in the town.
Six complaints were registered at the ORLEN Group Czech companies, including five in Unipetrol, and one in Spolana. All of them concerned odour nuisances. In each case the companies carried out relevant inspections and promptly took measures to remedy the situation.
ORLEN Lietuva received three complaints. Two of them were related to water and wastewater management and one to odour nuisance. The company took steps to remove contamination in the Baltic Sea resulting from failure of ORLEN Lietuva’s oil pipeline.
ORLEN Południe received six complaints about odour nuisance in 2021. The company took olfactometer measurements at the indicated facilities and cleaned non-operational wastewater collection and pre-treatment facilities.
Each complaint was considered on a case-by-case basis and with utmost care. In the areas where odour nuisance was identified, substance concentrations were measured, and ongoing monitoring of weather conditions and substance concentrations in automatic air monitoring stations was undertaken. The technical services took steps to check whether the production, repair and maintenance processes were run correctly, and to minimise the nuisance.
In response to all 51 grievances filed with the companies by telephone or in writing relevant steps were taken by the end of the reporting year.
