Environment and Sustainability

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

BOTAŞ International aims to minimize environmental impacts at every stage of its operations by placing environmental sustainability at the center of its activities. The company acts with environmental responsibility in the operation of the BTC Crude Oil Pipeline and adopts the concept of “reliable business” with the aim of minimizing environmental, health and safety risks that may arise from operational activities.

With a holistic approach, BIL aims to meet the needs and expectations of customers, suppliers, subcontractors and visitors, as well as comply with legal requirements, with the Environmental Management System (EMS) it has established within the framework of the ISO 14001 standard. The EMS has been prepared in an integrated manner with other management systems, including ISO 45001, ISO 27001, ISO 50001 and ISO 9001. The system in question covers the 1,076-kilometer route of the BTC Crude Oil Pipeline in Turkey, pump stations, the Haydar Aliyev Ceyhan Marine Terminal and all other relevant facilities; It ensures effective management of environmental risks by going beyond legal requirements.

With a comprehensive approach supporting environmental sustainability, environmental management activities such as environmental monitoring, waste management, wastewater discharge, emission management and protection of biodiversity are meticulously carried out in line with the current national legislation, international agreements and standards and company procedures. The Environment and Sustainability Directorate is at the center of these activities and ensures that responsibilities related to environmental management are fulfilled throughout the Ceyhan Marine Terminal (CMT), pump stations and pipeline. The unit regularly monitors all environmental management processes, conducts audit activities and supports the environmental sustainability of operational processes.

Critical environmental dimensions determined within the scope of the EMS are managed with regular risk and opportunity assessments; the effectiveness of the system is continuously monitored through internal audits, performance analyses and management review meetings. The company sees environmental sustainability as a value-creating process and integrates this understanding into all its operations. This approach makes it possible to minimize the environmental impacts of the company's activities, protect natural resources and achieve long-term environmental sustainability goals.

Environmental Management System

BIL has been ISO14001 certified for the operation of the Turkey section of the BTC pipeline in 2008. During the surveillance and re-certification audits, BIL is registered for successful implementation of Environmental Management System (EMS) requirements. Within the scope of EMS continuous improvement, internal audits are performed at all facilities annually by BIL’s auditor/lead auditor certified personnel.

EcoCard System, which is developed and used by BIL to report, prevent and remedy environmental non-comformances, is a good practise model to other companies.

Environmental impacts of operational activities are being closely monitored at all pump stations, on RoW (Right of Way) and in sea as per a comprehensive environmental monitoring programme.

The on-shore (pipeline) and off-shore (marine) ecological monitoring surveys those carried out periodically enable BIL to follow any kind of change in terrestrial and marine life.

Beside ecological monitoring surveys, discharges of domestic waste water treatment plants and oily water separators at all facilities are monitored regularly. Also, stack emissions are monitored annually and air quality measurements are done at CMT.

SUSTAINABILITY AT BOTAŞ INTERNATIONAL

BOTAŞ International adopts a sustainability-focused approach while acting with an operational excellence approach, taking into account the environmental, social and economic impacts of its activities. Aware of the strategic importance of the BTC Crude Oil Pipeline it operates, the Company continues its work with the goals of minimizing environmental impacts, developing strong relationships with local communities and creating long-term value for the future. The Company conducts its activities in accordance with national and international standards, and ensures continuous improvement in its operational processes by integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) elements into its corporate policies.

BOTAŞ International follows its sustainability activities within its current governance structure and regularly addresses its activities in this area at the board of directors level. Sustainability-related topics are brought to the agenda and evaluated in Management Review (YGG) meetings. This approach allows sustainability-related issues to be managed in line with the company's strategic goals. In YGG meetings, the company's operational performance, process safety and quality management processes, as well as environmental sustainability targets, energy management and waste management are also evaluated. The data and analyses discussed in these meetings contribute to more effective direction of sustainability efforts. The designed structure allows the company to better manage its environmental and social impacts and integrate sustainability strategies with current operations.

Within the scope of sustainability management, in the process of determining and managing the company's priority issues, a comprehensive stakeholder participation study is carried out and systematic analysis of stakeholder feedback is provided. These studies, which are conducted to understand the expectations of stakeholders, serve as an important guide for future strategies and operational processes.

OUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

BOTAŞ International has determined priority sustainability issues in order to fulfill both its operational and environmental responsibilities in line with its corporate strategies. These issues aim to address the environmental, social and governance (ESG) impacts of the company's activities and are meticulously evaluated to contribute to the global sustainability framework. The following section includes BOTAŞ International’s priority sustainability issues and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to which these issues directly contribute or are associated. The fundamental elements that determine the company’s sustainability approach also reflect its strong will to contribute to the SDGs.

As BOTAŞ International Anonim Şirketi, we have taken a step into a sustainability-focused transformation process by taking into account the environmental, social and governance dimensions of our activities. While maintaining our strategic position in the energy sector, we see minimizing our environmental impacts, ensuring the sustainability of natural resources and establishing transparent communication with our stakeholders as our main priorities. In this context, we carry out our operations in accordance with national and international standards and integrate our environmental and social responsibilities into all our processes.

As of 2023, we published our first Sustainability Report in order to systematically structure our sustainability activities. Through this report, we transparently shared our contributions to sustainable development goals and our environmental and social performance with the public. At the same time, we initiated the work to establish our sustainability governance structure and laid the foundations of the structure that will ensure that environmental, social and governance dimensions are regularly addressed at the senior management level. In the coming periods, we will continue our efforts to integrate our sustainability approach into our corporate structure and to continuously improve our performance in this area.

1. To use natural resources efficiently within the scope of combating climate change, to carry out the necessary work on reducing the amount and intensity of carbon emissions, to protect biodiversity, to increase the use of renewable energy resources and energy efficiency, and to make the resources used sustainable,
2. Defining environmental dimensions with a life cycle approach, evaluating their impacts, and taking appropriate and sufficient measures to eliminate or minimize significant impacts and risks.

As BOTAŞ International Anonim Şirketi, we have taken a step into a sustainability-focused transformation process by taking into account the environmental, social and governance dimensions of our activities. While maintaining our strategic position in the energy sector, we see minimizing our environmental impacts, ensuring the sustainability of natural resources and establishing transparent communication with our stakeholders as our main priorities. In this context, we carry out our operations in accordance with national and international standards and integrate our environmental and social responsibilities into all our processes.

As of 2023, we published our first Sustainability Report in order to systematically structure our sustainability activities. Through this report, we transparently shared our contributions to sustainable development goals and our environmental and social performance with the public. At the same time, we initiated the work to establish our sustainability governance structure and laid the foundations of the structure that will ensure that environmental, social and governance dimensions are regularly addressed at the senior management level. In the coming periods, we will continue our efforts to integrate our sustainability approach into our corporate structure and to continuously improve our performance in this area.

4.Yönlendirme alanı butonu (Environmental Monitoring Surveys)

Discharges of all DWWTPs (Domestic Waste Water Treatment Plant) and OWSs (Oily Water Separator) at all facilities (PTs, CMT) are being monitored periodically in accordance with national regulations and project standards. Water samplings and analysis are undertaken by accreditated laboratory.

At Pump Stations and Ceyhan Marine Terminal, potable water is supplied from groundwater wells. Water quality and level monitoring are undertaken at all wells annually.

Stack emissions are monitored periodically at all stations and CMT as per ‘Regulation on Control of Air Pollution Sourced from Industry’ and project standards.

Ambient air quality monitoring parameters reflect potential impacts that may result from the operation of the CMT. Ambient air quality is measured at multiple locations at ground level and includes provision for determining background air quality and to observe changes in air quality (if any) resulting from the CMT operations.

Pipeline physical monitoring surveys are undertaken in order to determine the success of reinstatement activities (erosion control measures, drainage structures, etc) and to maintain and physical defects on pipeline (RoW).

Ecological monitoring on the ROW consists of the vegetation cover and species diversity monitoring to ensure that the biorestoration objectives as set out in the EIA and EMS are maintained during the Operations phase.

The results of marine turtle research activities carried out at detailed engineering, pre-construction and construction stages of BTC Project, researches showed that the small beaches between Yumurtalık and BOTAS District Management (DM) in Iskenderun Gulf are important nesting areas for critically endangered marine turtles “Green turtle (Chelonia mydas)” and “Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)”. In accordance with the research findings, the region (Iskenderun Gulf-Yumurtalik) is known to be an important nesting area for Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) rather than Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta). Marine Turtle Monitoring Surveys have been carried out regularly from 2002 in accordance with the commitments in EIA and BIL Environmental Management Plans.

Ceyhan Marine Terminal is located at northeast section of Iskenderun Bay. The marine baseline of CMT location was determined at EIA stage by Marine Ecology and Sediment Surveys. The surveys were continued to be undertaken at Operations Stage in order to determine the impacts (if any) of CMT operational activities.

The purpose of coastal processes monitoring surveys is to explore the possible impacts of the BTC Jetty on the coastal dynamics of the beaches adjacent to the Jetty both N and S. Accoring to the geological risk assessment studies of CMT, the risk of coastal erosion is minor as the seabed is predominantly flat (approximately 1º slope). This suggests that net sediment transport will be relatively minimal.