RUBIS - 2019 Universal Registration Document

4 CSR AND NON-FINANCIAL INFORMATION - Limiting our environmental impact and operating in a safe environment

4.2.2 LIMITING OUR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

DISTRIBUTION OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS ACTIVITY Risks

• optimize the use of resources by protecting water resources (section 4.2.2.4.1). Another risk that the Group does not consider to be a priority in terms of its activities, but which is nevertheless significant, is that of waste management (section 4.2.2.4.2).

The risks to the environment stemming from Group activities are monitored closely and managed responsibly.

The petroleum products distribution activity is also concerned, albeit to a lesser extent due to the smaller quantities of products stored in the sites operated compared to Rubis Terminal, by the risk of accidental fuel spills or leaks in the pipeworks or tanks (in fuel depots, gas stations and customer installations). Road haulage of products, which is necessary to supply distribution sites and customers (automotive fuel, bitumen) is also liable to result in accidental spills. Measures to prevent and contain pollution Tanks containing hazardous products, and associated pipework, undergo systematic inspections at storage sites in accordance with international standards during regular mandatory on-site visits, generally once every 10 years. Moreover, to prevent groundwater and soil pollution in the event of accidental spillage, storage tanks are often installed in watertight retention basins lined with concrete. These basins are kept shut. They are only opened for emptying manually after checks have been performed confirming the absence of pollutants. In the loading/ unloading zones of the storage sites for tank trucks, the retention platforms are purpose-designed for each type of product and, as a general rule, connected to oil- water separators linked to treatment plants or buffer basins. Groundwater is tested at discharge points every quarter. Equipment used at Rubis Énergie gas stations that is liable to generate soil pollution (mainly tanks and piping) is checked regularly (particularly in respect of its solidity and water proofness), and is gradually being replaced by double-wall technology. This includes double-wall underground tanks and pipes equipped with leak detectors which provide continuous oversight to guard against any possible pollution. The medium- term (2027) objective is to replace single-wall tanks that are more than 30 years old. The regions most affected by this measure are the Bahamas, Jamaica, the West Indies, Haiti and East Africa. By way of example, the tanks of 6 gas stations are due for replacement in 2020 in the Caribbean zone, representing an overall investment of approximately US$3 million.

THREE DIVISIONS WITH SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

Rubis’ business lines are organized into 3 divisions: storage, distribution, and support and services. These entail industrial risks depending on the nature of the products handled (petroleum products, LPG, bitumen, chemical and agrifood products), each of which has environmental impacts of very different natures and scales. These risks are detailed at the beginning of each part in this section. The environmental impac t of Rub i s Terminal’s storage activity is due to the size of the depots (and the quantity of products being stored and transferred there) and the nature of some of the products being handled, which require energy-intensive facilities (boilers, for example). The environmental impact of Rubis Énergie’s distribution activities (LPG, fuel: gasoline, diesel, kerosene, fuel oil, etc.) arises mainly from the risk of accidental product spillages or leaks from several small sites (storage depots, gas stations, LPG cylinder filling plant, customer facilities, aviation or marine refueling facilities) that are generally smaller than Rubis Terminal sites. Lastly, the environmental impact of Rubis Énergie’s support and services activity mainly stems from the refinery in the French Antilles (SARA) and is the result of industrial processing, and shipping. MEASURES LIMITING THE GROUP’S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT This chapter details the preventive measures put in place and key monitoring data for the following priority environmental risks, identified by means of a pictogram : • prevent water and soil pollution likely to be caused by accidental product spillages (section 4.2.2.1); • assess and limit atmospheric emissions from industrial activity (section 4.2.2.2); • contribute to combating climate change (see section 4.2.2.3 which presents the Bilan Carbone ® of the Group’s activities, in particular);

4.2.2.1 WATER AND

SOIL POLLUTION

The risks of contamination of water and soil related to the Group’s operations result mainly from accidental spillages of stored and/or transported products, which at some sites may result from activities preceding the Group’s presence. Broadly speaking, the Group gradually invests on sites to improve the safety of its facilities and to eliminate the risk of pollution as much as possible.

STORAGE ACTIVITY Risks

The storage activity may generate accidental water and soil pollution, in particular as a result of bulk tank overflows, spillage, bulk tank and/or pipe leaks, and discharges into residual water.

Measures to prevent and contain pollution

Tanks containing hazardous products, and associated pipework, undergo systematic inspections at storage sites in accordance with international standards during regular mandatory on-site visits. Moreover, to prevent groundwater and soil pollution in the event of accidental spillage, storage tanks are (with some exceptions) installed in watertight retention basins (lined with concrete or clay compounds). These basins are kept shut. They are only opened manually after checks have been performed confirming the absence of pollutants. In the loading/unloading zones for tank trucks, the retention platforms are purpose- designed for each type of product and, as a general rule, connected to oil-water separators linked to treatment plants or buffer basins. Water is tested at discharge points at least every half-year, and monthly at the outflows from treatment plants. Weekly or monthly checks are carried out on nearly all sites to verify that there is no floating pollution in the groundwater monitoring wells downstream of facilities.

86 i Rubis 2019 Universal Registration Document