72
Significant direct and
indirect impacts on
biodiversity
Significant direct and
indirect impacts on
biodiversity
The disposal of bauxite residues on land (as
declared in the indicators for 2011) had a localised
impact on biodiversity. As this particular practice
was not extended, impacts have not worsened any
further.
Power plant producing electricity from wind
energy (Wind farm), located adjacent to an area
protected by law, is environmental-friendly, with
zero pollutant emissions, zero soil pollution and
negligible disturbance of the local flora and fauna.
Management of impacts
on biodiversity from the
Group’s activities.
To address the impacts on biodiversity from the
disposal of bauxite residues on land, the company
takes measures to deal with dust emission, which
include the following:
1. Scheduled maceration, particularly during the
summer or in general during low-humidity
periods.
2. Coverage of slopes with topsoil, after carrying
out relevant technical studies.
3. Maintenance of the access roads already
opened, to avoid new impacts from the
opening of new ones.
4. Launch of a large-scale water-engineering
project to capture and retain rainwater within
the area designated for the disposal of bauxite
residues, so that it can be discharged in a
controlled way without adverse impacts.
1. The protection of biodiversity as an aspect of
the natural environment is expressed indirectly
in the company’s environmental policy.
2. Full compliance with the environmental
legislation in force, in the context of the
restrictions and special conditions imposed
regarding the operation of the company’s
thermal power plants and RES plants.
3. It is pointed out that the environmental
legislation also includes the legislative
instruments on the protection of the
environment, and the company's power plants
have been granted their operating licenses
taking into consideration the protection of
biodiversity.
4. Development of additional specialised studies in
regions where projects are carried out, even if
these studies are not mandatory under the laws
in force, in order to ensure the protection of
biodiversity of the wider region.
5. Adoption of protection and rehabilitation
measures through the operation of the
company’s projects.
6. In its relations with the local communities
where its projects are developed, the company
implements compensatory actions, some of
which focus on the protection of the natural
environment and biodiversity.
The Energy sector presents certain par-
ticularities, as according to the laws in
force on the protection of the envi-
ronment and of biodiversity, con-
struction of power production plants
is allowed inside protected areas be-
longing to the NATURA 2000 Net-
work. The power plants (thermal and
RES plants)
of our subsidiary
PROTERGIA S.A. are constructed and
operated to the strictest technical
and operational standards, in full
compliance with the applicable Com-
munity and national laws on the pro-
tection of biological diversity. From the
company’s power production plants
currently in operation, only the wind
farm at Sidirokastro (Prefecture of
Serres), for which 0.12 km2 of land
was allocated, lies at a distance of 1.5
km from the outer boundary of the
area proposed for inclusion in the
NATURA 2000 Network with code GR
126000, and of more than 15 km from
the Special Protection Area with code
GR 126008. It is an environmental-
friendly power plant, with zero pollu-
tant emissions, zero soil and subsoil
pollution and negligible disturbance to
the indigenous flora and fauna. Minor
impacts, if any, are fully remedied
based on specialised studies developed
and applied (rehabilitation planting
studies, ecological studies, ornitho-
logical studies etc.).
The table below summarises the im-
pacts of our activity on biodiversity and
the management of these impacts in
the Metallurgy sector (aluminium pro-
duction) and the Energy sector (elec-
tricity production), through our sub-
sidiaries ALUMINIUM S.A. and
PROTERGIA S.A., respectively.
