Our culture and management systems

The top management’s leadership and commitment are vital to our success. That is why our leaders are committed to Galp's values and undertake their responsibilities by example, attitudes and behavior, in order to motivate their teams, ensure the Organization’s safety and productivity, and guarantee that decision-making incorporates environmental, social, safety and health aspects.                             

The decision-making culture adopted is based on the assessment of risks and opportunities, as well as on an integrated management approach that takes into account the operations’ entire life cycle. It is this action that makes us competitive, sustainable, generates trust and strengthens partnerships, therefore, granting the License to Operate.

The agility that is requested of us has boosted the transformation of processes, behaviors and the Organization’s own culture, in order to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of our management systems.

In 2018 we completed the DRIVER project, which had as its main objective the implementation of an Integrated Management System (SIG) of Environment, Quality, Safety, Energy and Social Responsibility.

In 2021, APCER renewed the Certification of the Integrated Management System (SIG) in the six aspects, namely Environment, Quality, Safety, Energy, Social Responsibility and Business Continuity. We are the first energy company, in Portugal, to achieve, since 2018, external certification in these 6 aspects.

The integrated management system consolidates the previous 15 Management Systems into a single system and ensures alignment with best practices and international reference standards. SIG allows us to have an integrated and holistic overview of Galp’s critical processes and promotes a uniform and consistent application of its regulatory requirements, as well as other commitments made to our stakeholders.

The current health, safety and environment (HSE) operational management system, which is applicable to all operations and activities under our responsibility, ensures compliance with legislation and other relevant requirements, effectively manage HSE risks and guarantee continuous performance improvement throughout the life cycle of our activities, products and services.

This system meets the principles outlined in our HSE policy and its requirements are conveyed through the 22 elements, which lead us to the HSE excellence that we aspire to.

Galp’s HSE policy sets the baseline in terms of protecting people, the environment, and assets in all our activities. It is enforceable to all production operations and business facilities of all value chain (upstream, mid and downstream, covering marketing, distribution, and logistics) and in all life cycle phases (including operation, due-diligence, mergers, acquisitions, etc.). It is also applicable to suppliers, service providers and contractors, non-managed operations, joint venture partners, and outsourcing partners. 

We continuously assess the risk at facilities and operations throughout their life cycle.

In the design phase, risks are identified and analysed so that technically appropriate solutions are implemented to eliminate them or to reduce them to acceptable levels.

In the exploration phase, the facilities are maintained and operated in a safe manner, and risk analyses are carried out periodically to reassess existing risks and to ensure that the identified risks remain at acceptable levels.

We have elected the following as priority areas of action:

• leadership and organizational culture;
• risk management in all phases of our operations’ life cycle;
• accident prevention;
• managing the change of facilities, technologies and human resources;
• ensuring the mechanical integrity of the facilities.

Life cycle model of Galp’s assets and activities

Every project and activity at Galp has a comprehensive overview, integrating specific HSE and Sustainability requirements throughout their life cycle, ensuring that the assessment of risk and associated impacts, such as Due Diligence and Environmental, Social and Health Impact Assessment, are part of the decision-making criteria.

At Galp, risk and opportunity assessment is carried out in a cross-cutting and integrated manner and takes into account the uncertainties associated with the various domains (both financial and non-financial). Handling risks and opportunities of an environmental, social, health and safety nature deserves our greatest attention, and therefore internal methodologies are applied, based on reference standards (ISO 31000 for Risk Management, ISO 22301 for Business Continuity, and other international standards such as API, IOGP, etc.)....

See the NTR-008 Standard Summary related to Health, safety, social and environmental specific requirements in Projects.

Learn more about our approach to risk management.

In addition, our operations and facilities are periodically and systematically verified by internal and external auditors, who ensure their compliance with the established requirements.

Impact assessment and management

Whenever needed, the environmental and social impacts assessment and management processes are applied to infrastructure investment projects, activities, products and changes in technology, as well as infrastructure deactivation projects. Without prejudice to any legal requirements that are applicable in the various geographical areas we operate in, the impact assessment is carried out according to the following approach:

The Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) framework is a tool is an integral part of our HSE (Health, Safety and Environment) management system and, consequently, of the risk management process. The top management’s commitment and accountability with regard to the HSE themes, as well as the engagement with stakeholders are essential for creating value for the Company and the community at large. Learn more about our assessment and management of environmental and social impacts

A responsible operator

As an E&P operator, we go beyond the environmental, social and health impact assessment (ESHIA). Galp performed an assessment in accordance with the Natural and Social Capital Protocol, not only identifying, but also quantifying the potential environmental and social risks identified in the ESHIA.