Environmental management and compliance

Committed to caring for the environment

2020 was the year to update different aspects of the management of TGI in relation to the environment.

Why is this important?

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The management and environmental compliance of our company is essential to be able to frame the business operations in a field of sustainability, thus achieving the balance between the generation of value for our shareholders, the well-being of the communities and collaborators, and the minimization of the environmental impact.

In this scenario, we also highlight that noise management is a priority in order to have good relations with the communities and guarantee the safety of our employees.

These activities seek to contribute to our company's strategy by reducing sanctioning risks and generating a framework of trust with environmental and regulatory authorities through compliance with obligations and requirements.

In this regard, our efforts are aimed at managing early, and under the precautionary principle, the possible risks, impacts, and opportunities derived from the operation in environmental matters.

How do we manage it?

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In the most important stations, we did the conceptual engineering study to ensure that the ambient noise generated by our operations is in total harmony with the environment.
In the most important stations, we did the conceptual engineering study to ensure that the ambient noise generated by our operations is in total harmony with the environment.
In the most important stations, we did the conceptual engineering study to ensure that the ambient noise generated by our operations is in total harmony with the environment.

We incorporate environmental compliance into the strategic and process risk matrix. Through Planning and Performance Management, we carry out quarterly monitoring of the controls defined for the mitigation of risks of sanctions by the environmental authority and we evaluate the effectiveness and soundness of the actions carried out.

We carry out this management through the development of management measures and actions needed to prevent, mitigate, correct, or compensate for environmental effects, and to comply with the applicable legislation on environmental management, as well as other requirements that our company subscribes to.

In particular, in relation to noise, we identify and quantify emissions, thus generating sound pressure diagnoses of operations and prioritizing mitigation at the sites where concerns and legal remedies have been raised.

This compliance requires joint management with the national and regional environmental authorities, in order to inform the requirements and respond within the established times.

(103-3) This is how in 2020, we ensured the effectiveness of our management by verifying the Icontec compliance with the controls established by our company in the environmental legal requirements matrix.

In addition, the Bogotá Comptroller's Office carried out the PAD 2020 regularity audit, valid for 2019, covering the verification of the activities carried out by environmental management: compliance with the commitments and the Sustainability Policy, environmental compensation, 1% investment, management of contracts and the results of plans, programs, and projects.

In 2020, Bureau Veritas performed an external audit of the environmental management system in order to ensure conformance and compliance with the requirements of the NTC ISO 14001:2015.

What we achieved in 2020

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(307-1) In 2020, we did not have any fine or sanction for non-compliance in environmental matters.

We overcame a delay in meeting the requirements of the environmental authorities from previous years.
We filed 15 environmental management plans with the environmental authority, and we managed to unify the measures in force for more than 20 years, in accordance with the actual operation of TGI's projects in the operation, maintenance and dismantling stage.
We manage 27 administrative acts of the 2020 validity issued by the ANLA; the result was the filing of a complete response for 70% of the Orders issued and a partial response for 19% of them, complying with the required times. For the remaining 11%, we prepared an action plan, taking into account the follow-up carried out by the authority.
We developed 16 environmental workshops for the 16 files that the company has in ANLA; the municipal administrations and community leaders participated (283 people), reaching a coverage of nine departments and 37 municipalities. In addition, we complied with 100% of the delivery of compliance reports for these files or dossiers.
We exceeded the goal of 92% in the process indicator we use we monitor and control environmental legal compliance with the ANLA requirements, derived from the environmental licenses granted (new or modified). The result achieved was 96.3%.
We received satisfactory responses to 112 processes from 14 regional autonomous corporations (CAR): Corpoboyacá, Carder, Cas, Cormacarena, Corpocaldas, Corpoguajira, Corporinoquia, Cortolima, CRQ, CVC, Cormagdalena, Corpocesar, CAR and Corantioquia.
Through the monitoring and follow-up of the administrative acts issued by the CARs, during the year we responded to all requests in the time established; thus, we complied with the obligations established by the regional authority.
(Own) At night noise levels, we achieved 100% compliance by our facilities with the parameters established by environmental regulations (Resolution 0627 of 2006), while at daytime noise levels, we achieved 90%. For this, we consolidated the noise generation and propagation evaluations at the Hatonuevo, Puente Guillermo and Miraflores gas compression stations, considering the power and acoustic intensity.
In the most important stations, we did the conceptual engineering study, in which the types of barriers or soundproofing solutions were established so that the noise emission decreased by 30 dB. With this, we will ensure that the environmental noise generated by TGI's operations is in total harmony with the environment.
In 2020, we did not receive complaints from the surrounding communities due to the effects of the operation.

Challenges for 2021

By 2024, we have the challenge of fully complying with the parameters established by environmental regulations in the levels of noise, day and night.

Maintain high performance in environmental compliance achieved through permanent and joint management with regional and national environmental authorities, providing a compliant and timely response to requirements and obligations.
Manage with the ANLA the approval of the update of the environmental management measures of 15 files. This result will allow our efficiency in monitoring and environmental performance of operations.
Manage the documentary sanitation for the closure of the files opened with corporations, and for which we were fully compliant.
Complete the update of the management plan files in order to efficiently manage the monitoring of operations, which began in 2020.
Establish the baseline of environmental noise in the areas surrounding the stations.
In the long term, carry out the unification of ANLA dossiers that are adjacent, of little extension or which share an area of influence to generate efficiency and savings in the company operation.
Manage and execute environmental compensations, complying with the obligations related to the change of land use, landscape affectation, loss of biodiversity, biotic compensations or minor environmental permits, to initiate the execution of actions that lead to compensating and giving back to the communities, the regions, localities and the environment due to the negative impacts that could not be avoided, corrected or mitigated, as a result of the construction and operation of the projects.