Exxon-Mobil looks to buy off civil society in PNG
Exxon-Mobil, developer of Papua New Guinea’s giant $18 billion Liquified Natural Gas project is looking to manage the project’s social and environmental image by sucking in PNG’s notoriously weak and gullible NGO sector with meaningless dialogue and the promise of future cash. Exxon’s strategy to nullify possible opposition and criticism through engagement with civil society organisations has previously been successfully used in PNG by organisations like Chevron (working primarily with WWF) , by Placer Dome at its controversial Porgera mine (where they established a formal NGO committee) and by the World Bank.
From: steven.j.whisker@exxonmobil.com [mailto:steven.j.whisker@exxonmobil.com]
Sent: 29 September 2011 12:58
To: steven.j.whisker@exxonmobil.com
Cc: ruben.medrano@exxonmobil.com
Subject: EHL Biodiversity Strategy: Multi Stakeholder MeetingFurther to meetings held with you earlier in the year, EHL is progressing with the development of its Biodiversity Offset Delivery Plan.
In order to update you on the status of Biodiversity Offset Delivery Plan, discuss how EHL has addressed the many constructive ideas received from you to date, and receive further input from you to enable finalization of the Biodiversity Offset Delivery Plan, EHL will convene a Multi Stakeholder Meeting to be held in Port Moresby on Tuesday 25 October and Wednesday 26 October 2011.
Your participation in this Multi Stakeholder Meeting is most welcome (see below the list of invitees).
The venue will be confirmed in due course, as will the agenda and other details – in the meantime, please let me know if you plan to attend.
Thanks
Steve
Megan Christensen / Ben Yaru Oil Search Limited
Jane Mogina Mama Graun Conservation Trust Fund
Damien Ase CELCOR
Ken Mondiai Partners with Melanesia
Thomas Paka /Justin Ondopa
Ecoforestry Forum
Francis Hurahura / Theresa Kas / Barbara Masike The Nature Conservancy
Neil Stronach / Eric Verheij / Ted Mamu
WWF
David Mitchell / Conrad Savy / Mahlette Betre Conservation International
Ross Sinclair Wildlife Conservation Society
Miriam Supuma / Banak Gamui
IBR
Annie Kajir
Environmental Law Centre
Vojtech Novotny / Legi Sam
New Guinea Binatang Research Centre
Sangion Tiu / Kelvin Waukave Research and Conservation Foundation of PNG
John Ericho PNG Conservation Forum
Arthur Georges Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra
Lisa Dabek Woodlands Park Zoo
Rhodah Belden/James Laki Peace Foundation Melanesia
Kay Kalim / John Michael / Rose Singadan DEC
Prof. Frank Griffin / Prof. Chalapan Kaluwin UPNG
TBD University of Goroka
TBD University of Technology
Philip Siaguru Vudal University
Dr. Nembou Divine Word University
Steven Whisker
PNG LNG ProjectOffice: +61 7 3020 4513
Mobile: + 61 459 807 335“One Project, One Team, Focused on the Fundamentals”
“Wanpela Projek, Wanpela Tim, Lukluk Long As Tingting Bilong Projek”
I’d like to take the opportunity to respond to this blog post, on behalf of Esso Highlands, operator of the PNG LNG Project.
External engagement is fundamental to how we conduct our business. Ongoing, meaningful dialogue with our stakeholders provides opportunities to listen to concerns, identify material issues, and ensure we are delivering on our commitments.
PNG is a country of high biodiversity significance and conservation value – it’s what makes this country so amazing and unique. In recognition of this, as Esso Highlands Limited (a subsidiary of ExxonMobil) works to develop the PNG LNG Project we are implementing a Biodiversity Strategy which outlines how biodiversity has been and will continue to be managed as part of the Project. This strategy includes an Offset Delivery Plan.
Consultation with stakeholders and interested parties is a key component in the development of this plan. To date we have met with local governmental and non-governmental organisations and experts as part of the consultation process. Strong and capable potential partners have been identified for implementation of the offset program, due to commence in the latter half of 2012.
For further information about EHL’s Biodiversity Strategy please visit http://pnglng.com/commitment/biodiversity.html and for regular updates on the PNG LNG Project I encourage you to head to our website to read our Quarterly Environmental and Social Reports: http://pnglng.com/quarterly_reports/.
Rebecca Arnold
Media and Communications Adviser
Esso Highlands Limited
Not to be a wet blanket. But how does this differ from other organizations proactively engaging with stakeholders.
I would rather these sorts of Resource Developer-NGO dialogue and initiatives come through the already existing PNG Watch Council forum, or they shall be met with Legal suites for not complying to the PNG Watch Council & PNG Government Terms of Collaboration.
Further to this the PNG Watch Council still believes that these initiatives are good but not regulated nor protected hence are prone to be abused by the Giant entities involved.
The PNG Watch Council offers a table of dialouge and collaboration.
Jonathan.O’ata
Secretary General
Good to see big giants in extractive industries trying to establish dialogue and work in collaboration with academic institutions and national and international NGO’s alike.
Given the weak governance and lack of environmental policy implementation by legitimate government departments, these giants for sure they know that government departments have no teeth to bite, but NGO’s have the credentials to pursue environmental issues whenever and whoever does not comply with environmental legality of the operations of any kind. Theoretical plan can be a fabulous one but practicality of it matters.
Peter Katapa
observer