NIS has invested more than 900 million euros since 2009 in environmental projects and business initiatives that have had a significant positive impact on the ecological picture of Serbia
In the area of sustainable development, NIS is guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with its operations contributing to the achieving of 12 of those 17 goals. Alongside investing in the development of its business, NIS also invests in CSR projects and human resources, as well as implementing its own “green agenda”.
Modernisation and ecology “side by side”
For NIS, business development and operational diversification cannot be separated from environmental protection. NIS has invested more than 900 million euros since 2009 in environmental projects and business initiatives that have had a significant positive impact on improving the ecological picture in Serbia, with around 120 million euros of that total having been invested in “pure” environmental initiatives.
The best example of this is the deep processing plant at the Oil Refinery in Pančevo, the commissioning of which made it possible to produce greater quantities of the fuels that are the most valuable on the market, as well as the expansion of the product range to include petroleum coke. Very significant environmental effects were also achieved at the same time, because the operations of this modern plant reduce emissions of sulphur dioxide by 98.8 per cent, emissions of particulates by more than 50 per cent and emissions of nitrogen oxides by almost 10 per cent.
NIS also implements environmental projects in other areas of its operations. The company has invested approximately 30 million euros in the Amine plant in Elemir, and the gas processing method is such that it completely prevents emissions of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere. The Ostrovo gas field produces compressed natural gas, which has been dubbed the fuel of the future thanks to its characteristics, and solar panels have been installed at eight petrol stations in Serbia, which not only leads to savings on the consumption of electricity, but also contributes to reducing C02 emissions.
Significant advances in the energy field
In the diversifying of its operations, NIS has been striding into the field of energetics since 2013. Small power plants have been constructed on eight oil and gas fields in Serbia, where thermal energy and electricity are produced from gas that was previously torched due to its poorer quality. More than 20 million euros has been invested in these plants.
Moreover, last year, together with its partners, NIS launched the production of electricity at TE-TO Pančevo, representing the first gassteam power plant in Serbia intended for the combined production of electricity and thermal energy based on natural gas, an environmentally friendly fuel. It will produce thermal energy for the needs of the Pančevo Oil Refinery, while electricity will be directed towards Serbia’s electric power system.
Eco initiatives in cooperation with the community
NIS has implemented significant initiatives in the domain of ecology in cooperation with the local community. Under the scope of the “Common Cause Community” programme, 29 projects worth 107.5 million dinars were implemented together with 12 partner cities and municipalities in Serbia in 2021. These initiatives relate to improving energy efficiency, the replacement of heating boilers with more environmentally friendly energy sources, the landscaping of city parks which includes the installation of innovative ecological elements, solar lighting and smart benches as well as the planting of autochthonous plant species.
Company employees, members of the NIS Volunteer Club, also participate in environmental protection activities. They implement campaigns to clean and arrange riverbanks and lakeshores, excursion sites and public green areas, planting trees and educating the youngest members of society on the importance of protecting the natural environment.