• Airport Carbon Accreditation by Airports Council International certifies Hyderabad Airport with "Level 3+ , Neutrality"
• With this, both GMR led airports in India - Delhi Airport and Hyderabad Airport - become Asia-Pacific’s first and second Carbon Neutral airports
• Level 3+, Neutrality is the highest level of environmental achievement and recognition of the airport's great efforts in reducing emissions

Hyderabad Airport, managed and operated by GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd. (GHIAL), a GMR Group led consortium, today announced that it has become the first airport in Asia-Pacific region in 5-15 Million Passengers Per Annum category and second airport among all the categories in Asia-Pacific to achieve carbon neutral status. Earlier in September, 2016 GMR Group led Delhi Airport had become the first airport in Asia-Pacific to achieve Carbon Neutral status among all categories. With these achievements, GMR led airports have set up new benchmark for other airports in this region to follow.

Airports Council International (ACI) has certified Hyderabad International Airport with Level 3+, Neutrality under its Airport Carbon Accreditation programme. The Airport Carbon Accreditation programme is the industry standard for assessment of airports' efforts to manage and reduce carbon emissions. The ACI Airport Carbon Accreditation programme was launched in June 2009, and comprises of four levels: 'Mapping' (Level 1), 'Reduction' (Level 2), 'Optimization' (Level 3) and 'Neutrality' (Level 3+). Hyderabad Airport progressively achieved the ACI’s accreditations starting from achieving Level 1 and Level 2 which is Mapping and Reduction, respectively in 2012. The airport gained Level 3 status of Optmisation in 2013. This year, GHIAL has achieved Level 3+ Neutrality, which is the fourth and highest accreditation under the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme of ACI.

Commenting on the development, Mr SGK Kishore, CEO, GHIAL, said, “The Level3+ Neutrality status awarded by ACI under its Airport Carbon Accreditation programme is a significant achievement for Hyderabad Airport. This achievement is an outcome of our sustained efforts towards environment by proactive energy conservation measures, generation of renewable energy (Solar), carbon sinking through extensive greenbelt and various other environment protection measures with the active support of the airport’s stakeholders. Through this, GHIAL has demonstrated its commitment to support the Government of India’s resolution on the nation’s carbon footprint and oblige to COP 21 Global Climate Agreement with United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in April 2016.”

The globally reputed Airport Carbon Accreditation has upgraded Hyderabad Airport to "Level 3+, Neutrality", which is the highest level of achievement available to airports across the world. Carbon neutrality occurs when the net carbon emissions over an entire year is zero. This means the airport absorbs or offsets the same amount of emission that was generated. This achievement is accredited by ACI under Airport Carbon Accreditation that monitors the efforts of airports to manage and reduce their carbon emissions.

ACI Asia-Pacific Regional Director, Mrs. Patti Chau said, “Congratulations to the Hyderabad Airport’s team for the excellent achievement in becoming carbon neutral under Airport Carbon Accreditation. We are proud of Hyderabad Airport’s accomplishment which is no easy task. The achievement demonstrates the airport’s continuous commitment to reduce its environmental impacts and reduce and offset emissions. ACI will continue to work with our airport members in their journey towards carbon neutrality which is crucial for the long-term development of our industry.”

GHIAL has been actively working towards environment sustenance and emission controls at Hyderabad International Airport. GHIAL has commissioned a 5 MW solar power plant for the captive use of Hyderabad Airport. Apart from this, the airport has proactively initiated various energy conservation measures for optimum utilization of energy. It has introduced energy efficient LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting at the Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) and street lights at the airport approach road and service lanes. Entire PTB has Building Automation System in place which helps in energy conservation. The terminal building has optimization of air conditioning units according to ambient temperature and weather conditions which further reduces energy requirement. Apart from that systematic vehicular fuel consumption reduction by optimum vehicles utilsation and the best driving practices foster carbon emission reduction. The vast green cover around the airport which is nurtured by the airport team works as a natural sink of carbon emissions. The various energy conservation programmes implemented at Hyderabad Airport have resulted in 30% of carbon emission reduction during the last 7 years – this is achieved in spite of around 100% increase in passenger traffic from 2009 to 2015.

Other energy efficient and environment friendly infrastructures at the airport include state-of-the-art Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) and Water treatment plant (WTP), rain water harvesting, Solid Waste Management, Composting Plant, energy efficient Bridge Mounted Equipment (BMEs), advanced fuel hydrant systems, Fixed Electric Ground Power Units (FEGP) and battery operated vehicles, acoustic enclosures to the DG sets, online continuous environmental monitoring stations to monitor ambient air, ambient noise and weather parameters, etc.

In order to keep environment on top priority and process centric, Hyderabad Airport has put ISO 14001:2004 (International Environmental Management System) and ISO 50001:2011 (Energy Management System) in place as a part of IMS certification. The PTB of Hyderabad Airport has a unique design, which allows maximum natural lighting, and other features that enable optimal use of energy and water. This environment friendly design of the PTB has won the U.S. Green Building Council ‘Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design’ (LEED) – silver level certification which also makes Hyderabad Airport to be the first airport in Asia to receive such recognition.

The Hyderabad International Airport has won numerous environment related awards viz. Golden Peacock Environment Management Award, 2015; Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) Award for “Excellent Energy Efficient Unit” during the 15th and 16th National Award for Excellence in Energy Management 2014 and 2015; “Certificate of Merit” in National Energy Conservation Awards 2011 from Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Govt. of India; Best Airport Environmental Performance of the Year” by Center for Asia Pacific Aviation’s (CAPA) in 2009, among others. RGIA received the best landscape award from the State Govt. for the 6th consecutive year in 2016. GHIAL has also been awarded the ASSOCHAM CSR Excellence Award 2012-2013 and FICCI CSR Award 2012-13 for the community empowerment at RGIA through its GMR Varalakshmi Foundation, a CSR arm of GMR group.

About GHIAL:

GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL) is a joint venture company promoted by the GMR Group (63%) in partnership with Government of India (13%), Government of Telangana (13%) and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (11%). The Company was incorporated to design, finance, build, operate and maintain a world class Greenfield airport at Shamshabad, Hyderabad. Hyderabad airport was commissioned in a record time of 31 months in March 2008, with an initial capacity of 12 million passengers per annum (MPPA) and 1,50,000 MT of cargo handling capacity per annum. The Project has the flexibility to increase capacity to accommodate over 40 MPPA and shall be developed in a phased manner.

For further information about GHIAL, visit www.hyderabad.aero

For Further details, please contact:

Anindita Sinha
Head – Corporate Communications, GHIAL
E mail: Anindita.Sinha@gmrgroup.in

Yuvraj Mehta
Group Head & VP – Corporate Communications
E mail: yuvraj.mehta@gmrgroup.in