Sustainability

Further investment in education is one of our main sustainability priorities.

2011-12 Performance:

• Expansion of healthcare initiatives and medical facilities in villages and communities around the sites at the Vadinar refinery, the Salaya, Mahan and Tori power projects and the Raniganj gas block
• Increased provision for education and entrepreneurship initiatives
• Good progress towards a robust greenhouse gas management system
• Excellent health and safety record again - Vadinar refinery at 1,460 LTI free days and Stanlow refinery at 794 LTI free days. Essar Power operations at Hazira at 3,584 LTI free days
• Introduction of new people development initiatives across Essar Energy, principally in internal talent development and learning

2012-13 Priorities:

Our priorities in terms of building a sustainable business remain consistent. They are:

• To ensure health and safety remains the number one priority, with senior management taking the lead
• To build on the healthcare provision and medical facilities we provide to communities around our operating and construction sites
• To further develop environmental initiatives and improve infrastructure around our sites
• To continue investment in schools and children's education, adult education facilities and entrepreneurship in the communities where we have a presence
• To develop people and to maximise the array of talent within Essar Energy

Essar Energy is the first to recognise the degree of challenge associated with building and operating a major portfolio of oil and gas, exploration and production and power assets in India. Such large-scale activities, more than most, inevitably impact the people and communities in the areas where they take place.

We are equally clear that the company and its employees must meet these challenges, and ensure that our strategy, business and operations are founded on a culture of responsible behaviour towards all our stakeholders. We know that without this, we cannot create sustainable value.

As we make clear in our first annual sustainability report there has been significant progress meeting these objectives.

Our aim is to ensure we have a positive impact - whether on individuals, communities or the environment - and that by careful management, we minimise risks.

How can we do this? One way is to continually benchmark ourselves against best practices in our industries and in our communities, whether in India or overseas. Another way is to keep challenging ourselves to do better, to ask how performance can be improved and to encourage positive change.

Our first sustainability report carries a great deal more detail on all of our CSR activities. While this is a positive step forward, we recognise that we have a great deal more to improve on what we do and the quality of reporting in the vital areas of our business.

Below: Workers at Essar Energy's Vadinar refinery in Gujarat