The Hellenic Natural Gas System Operator (DESFA) owns, maintains, manages, operates, and develops the National Gas System of Greece. As an active member of society, DESFA recognizes the essential challenge of climate change, the increasing demographic trends, and the rapid technological revolution that reshape the planet, our way of living, and doing business.
In this framework, DESFA has developed a Sustainability Policy that expresses the corporate identity and communicates the approach to sustainability and the commitments and actions regarding the Environment, Society, and Governance (ESG Factors). DESFA considers sustainability as a guiding principle for defining strategic and operating choices, while ESG factors constitute a valuable tool for creating shared value and making the Company respond beyond what is required by the regulatory framework.
Environment approach
DESFA’s commitment to the Environment is reflected by implementing an Environmental Management System, covering all activities and facilities, based on ISO 14001:2015 international standard and communicating to stakeholders a QHSE Policy.
DESFA adopts a holistic approach concerning the Environment, committing itself not only to combat climate change, but also to adopt the best practices for the conservation and enhancement of the areas where it operates with its infrastructure, mitigating the environmental impacts of its operations. This is also reflected to the targets below:
- Reduction of CH4 emissions, as well as in all targets concerning energy efficiency;
- New business development with particular focus to green gases and innovation, and, while adopting waste management and recycling programs in its operations and supply chain;
DESFA is also committed to involve stakeholders along the value chain in order to create synergies for reducing its direct and indirect energy emissions of Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gases, based on the Paris Agreement, the EU Green Deal, and the EU Taxonomy, aiming to achieve carbon neutrality in its activities by 2050.
Social approach
Further to the above, DESFA identifies employees, local communities, customers and suppliers as key stakeholders, since only through their participation it will be possible to achieve the challenging strategic objectives of the coming years. Contributing to the social and economic development of local communities, giving priority to those areas and regions in which the Company operates, by means of sustainable social action models.
DESFA promotes a culture that defends the individual and its human rights, promoting diversity and equal opportunities in an inclusive environment. The Company’s employees are the most important asset for DESFA, and it is therefore of outmost interest to attract and retain specialized human resources and to train and develop its staff continuously, ensuring above all a healthy and safe environment for every one of them. The aim is always to provide the highest quality of services to the customers, achieving maximum satisfaction, while managing the gas network in a reliable and socially responsible manner.
Governance approach
Essential importance is given to the proper Governance of the Company, with special attention to ethics, compliance, service reliability, and efficiency, as well as the development of a risk management system, which will ensure the business continuity of the Company. DESFA considers market trends, the regulatory updates, and the strategic plans of its shareholders keeping its policy updated with a long-term perspective.
This policy is communicated to our stakeholders, in order to guarantee transparency and collaboration and is available to the public and to anyone, who might be interested.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Maria Rita Galli