BP names panel on Tangguh project

BP names panel on Tangguh project

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Anglo-American energy giant BP Plc has appointed a four-strong
international panel of experts to advise it on various issues
regarding the Tangguh liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in
Papua.

The International Advisory Panel on the Tangguh Project
comprises Sabam Siagian, the former Indonesian ambassador to
Australia, Rev. Herman Saud, the head of the Evangelical
Christian Church in Papua, former senator George Mitchel of the
United States and Lord Hannay of Britain.

Mitchel is known as a peace broker in the Northern Ireland
conflict and once drafted a peace proposal for the Palestinian-
Israeli conflict; while Hannay is the former British permanent
representative to the United States.

The panel reports directly to the corporate leadership in
London and is not subject to the organizational structure of BP
Indonesia, Herman was quoted by Antara as saying in Papua's
capital of Jayapura on Thursday.

The panel was set up to advise BP on how best to help the
local communities in Papua, protect the environment and prevent
conflicts with locals and environmentalists.

The panel members met with BP's leadership in London in late
April.

Herman said he has been criticized by non-governmental
organizations for accepting the BP offer, but was not deterred
because he believes the position will allow him to help the local
people.

"I don't expect anything for myself. I work for all people,
especially the traditional owners of the land where the project
is located," he said.

The Tangguh project, which will be jointly developed by BP and
Pertamina, is located in southwestern Papua, where BP and its
partners have found a huge gas reserve.

The LNG project will be supplied with gas from the Wiriagar,
Berau and Muturi blocks, which contain proven reserves of 14.4
trillion cubic feet of gas. BP is the majority owner of the
blocks.

BP and Pertamina have secured a buyer for the LNG from the
Philippines and are competing with Qatar and Australia for a
supply contract with China.