Spills and contamination (EN23)

No significant spills were recorded in 2008.

Risk for spills and other contamination is monitored, managed and mitigated locally. Incidents that could possibly result in significant environmental impact, such as spills, leaks and contamination, are reported according to Vattenfall’s Incident and Crisis Management (ICM) framework , see EU20.

Many of Vattenfall’s facilities have been operating for a long time. Work is under way to identify land that was contaminated during times when environmental awareness was lower and environmental legislation was less rigorous. Contaminated land exists in the Nordic countries, Germany and Poland. Known contaminated sites have been identified and characterised. Action to restore such land is taken when necessary and in dialogue with the authorities.

Monitoring programmes have been developed. For example, all potentially contaminated sites around Vattenfall’s facilities along the Lule River have been identified, and potential risks associated with the contamination have been assessed. In accordance with established programmes, necessary measures will be adopted no later than 2010. The plan for taking care of contaminated land is progressing on schedule.

In order to reduce the risk for oil leaks from electricity distribution operations and transformers in water protection areas, Vattenfall has a programme in force in Sweden for exchanging pole-mounted transformers with ground stations. An inventory taken in 2008 shows that out of a total of approximately 40,000 ground stations, 1,474 are situated in water protection areas, and out of these, 200 are pole-mounted.