CORRECTION: BP Indonesia to carry out evenly spread community development

BP Indonesia, which operates Tangguh LNG Project in northeastern Papua, has said it is strongly committed to improving the life style of the local community. If the firm?s operation turns out to be unable to improve the welfare of the community in its surrounds, it only means that BP?s presence in the area is a failure, Erwin Maryoto, BP Indonesia?s community development manager, said at its base camp in Tangguh on Tuesday.

Erwin said BP Indonesia-LN Tangguh does not want to repeat what had happened in other LNG plants like in LNG Bontang in Kalimantan where community development had not been evenly spread among the communities in the area. LNG Bontang?s community development had been focused on nearby areas, according to Erwin.

Erwin said LNG Tangguh will ensure that its community development will be evenly distributed, and will not be focused on the community near the project.

?The presence of our projects will ensure even growth of development. The people?s economy should be developed with the presence of LNG Tangguh,? Erwin said.

In the near future, Erwin said, LNG Tangguh will relocate 125 families from the Tanah Merah village, where LNG Tangguh is located, to another place. The firm will use land in Tanah Merah for its LNG plants.

Erwin said his company was awaiting approval from the central office of Environmental Impact Assessment Agency (Bappedal) for building houses for the tanah Merah villagers in their new place. Bappedal is expected to issue the approval in July, and if this happens LNG Tangguh will immediately start building the houses, Erwin said.

Erwin said: ?As a matter of fact the villagers have urged us to start building the houses. But, we are awaiting the approval of our Amdal document, according to existing standard procedures?. Amdal stands for Environmental Impact Assessment.

He said his company will fulfill the villagers? needs for electricity, clean water, medication and others. (*)