Abstract:

The relevance of the study is due to the need for the Russian petrochemical complex to adapt to new challenges: tightening environmental requirements, geopolitical instability and changing structure of energy demand. The purpose of the work is to identify the relationship between the implementation of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) principles and the increase in operational efficiency of business based on the analysis of leading Russian companies. The leading approach is a systematic analysis of corporate sustainable development strategies, performance management methods (Agile, IT/OT convergence, margin leakage prevention) and their comparison with industry benchmarks. The results demonstrate that ESG transformation in the industry has moved from formal trend following to a factor of strategic competitiveness. The greatest success has been achieved by companies that have integrated environmental and social responsibility into the operational management model, which allows them to reduce margin leakage by $0.5–2.5 per barrel and increase EBITDA by 2–5% without significant capital expenditures. Conclusions: the future of the petrochemical complex is determined by the ability of companies to combine ESG principles with modern management practices, which turns sustainable development challenges into a source of innovation and long-term sustainability.

Keywords: ESG transformation, sustainable development, petrochemistry, performance management, margin leakage, IT/OT convergence, corporate governance.