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TOTAL II
dawn star wrote:
>
> second part
>
> $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
>
> the following is from the TOTAL web site www.total.com
>
> [The World of TOTAL]
>
> [Yadana project]
>
> A historic opportunity for development and new openings ||
> Consequences of the project for local population and economy ||
> Socio-economic actions
>
> DISCUSSION OF MAIN CRITICISMS
>
> 1. Allegations of forced Labor
>
> Concerns have been expressed that forced labor is being used to
> lay the section of the pipeline that crosses Myanmar.
>
> This allegation voiced even before any work had been started and is
> completely unfounded. Firstly, the operator would never permit
> work to be carried out in such a manner.
>
> Secondly the operator contracts only competent specialized companies
> with
> international reputations. In order to provide jobs in the
> regions concerned, the selected sub-contractors maximize the
> use of local workers who are all naturally volunteer adults and
> well paid. These sub-contractors operate in a professional
> manner that meets exactly the same expected standards of human
> rights and working conditions applied worldwide. These
> standards are in strict compliance with the Group's Health,
> Safety and Environment Charter and TOTAL Myanmar's Code of
> Conduct.
>
> 2. Allegations of forced relocation
>
> Since the signature of the PSC (1992), no population has been
> moved to Total's best knowledge which is corroborated by
> frequent visits to the villages. Furthermore, the operator has
> no plans to move anyone in connection with this project; in
> fact there is absolutely no reason to do so as the route of the
> pipeline has been carefully traced to ensure that it does not
> pass through any villages.
>
> The pipeline has to cross some cultivated land which often
> happens in large building projects around the world. As is
> normal and expected, Total and its partners naturally provide
> fair and documented compensation to the concerned individuals.
>
> 3. Confusion between the pipeline and the Ye-Tavoy railway
>
> There has been some criticism regarding the working methods
> used to build this railroad (use of forced labor). The reality
> is that the railway project has nothing to do with the Yadana
> project :
>
> - the planning of this railway dates back to colonial times. It
> is designed to extend an existing line towards the south in
> order to open up the isolated southern region. It runs
> North-South, whereas the pipeline goes West to East.
>
> - The railway is technically incapable of transporting the very
> large equipment required for a pipeline project. This equipment
> is shipped by barge and unloaded at a logistical base built
> especially for the project. It is then trucked overland to the
> construction site.
>
> - in May 1996, Myanmar authorities have announced that from now
> on "people's labour" will no longer be used for the
> construction of railway lines and that soldiers would be used
> instead.
>
> 4. Denial of a report by "People's Defence Force" on BurnaNet
> news (september 2,1997)
>
> TOTAL-Myanmar categorically denies the report, dispatched by a
> group called "People's Defense Force" on BurmaNet news,
> concerning the rape of a young Mon girl by "three foreign TOTAL
> employees" on June 23.
>
> As soon as this allegation have been diffused by on the web, on
> August 25, we have immediately ordered an inquiry in the area
> on this report. This inquiry concluded that this report is
> completely unfounded.
>
> It appears that there is no inhabitant named Mi Tin San in
> Mygyaunglaung (or Mi Chaung Hlaung) village . The population of
> Mygyaunglaung has obviously no information about an accident of
> this kind. Contrarily to the allegation, nobody has been
> hospitalized after a rape in June 97, neither in Kaunbauk
> Hospital nor in one of the Total health centers in the vicinity
> of the pipeline. We have even checked at Dawei (Tavoy)
> hospital, where no such record has been found.
>
> [The World of TOTAL]
> <toal.com>
> Yadana project
> YADANA GAS PROJECT IN MYANMAR (BURMA)
>
> Humanitarian Report : Yadana project
>
> Reverend Richard W. TIMM, head of the Commission for Justice
> and Peace and founder of the South Asian Forum for Human
> Rights, and Justice K.M. Subhan, former consultant at the
> United Nations Center for Human Rights, spent five days touring
> and inspecting the Yadana project area in Myanmar, from January
> 4 to 8, 1998.
>
> The report they have published refutes allegations of abusive
> working conditions, describes the different dimensions of the
> socio-economic program, and makes instructive recommendations
> for the future.
>
> -------------
>
> COMMISSION FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE
>
> GPO Box-5, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh, Tel: (880-2) 417936
> Fax: (880-2) 834993
>
> E-mail: hlbtimm@xxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> BACKGROUND:
>
> We, Fr. R.W. Timm, CSC and Justice K.M.Subhan, have been
> working on human rights, and legal and humanitarian issues
> for over four decades each, in Bangladesh, Southeast Asia
> and elsewhere. During 1997, we were invited by UNOCAL to
> visit and review labor conditions and socio-economic
> programs at the Yadana gas pipeline project in Myanmar.
> We spent five days in Myanmar (January 4-8, 1998) looking
> into various humanitarian aspects of the project, in
> particular investigating allegations of slave tribal labour
> and labour abuses (mentioned, for example, in the May-June,
> 1997, issue of the journal of the International Work Group
> for Indigenous Affairs). Naw Vashti Pan Poe (of MOGE, and
> seconded to TOTAL to work as village coordinator for the
> socio-economic programs) accompanied us and acted as
> interpreter.
>
> We did all our interviews within the pipeline area. The
> questions of how and whether foreign investment affects the
> viability of the current regime in power in Myanmar were
> beyond the purview of our undertaking.
>
> In the villages along the pipeline, we took interviews of
> workers to learn what wages they received, how they compare
> with daily wages in the area and in the country in general.
> We also took interviews of people who received compensation
> for their land which was taken for the pipeline right of
> way (41' wide). The team also examined "Heads of
> Agreements" with the local communities and met with Village
> Communications Committee members to learn their
> composition, mode of selection and their understanding of
> their role. We visited clinics and schools, and took
> interviews with the health and education staffs and those
> under their care.
>
> At no point was there any army presence during our
> interviews.
>
> OBSERVATIONS:
>
> 1. TOTAL and its allies are doing something far above their
> legal obligations for the development and improvement of
> the village and community life. Not only are they paying
> fair wages, well above the market price, but they are
> keeping their employees happy and the inhabitants of the 13
> villages near the pipeline have experienced great
> improvement in their lives.
>
> 2. We carefully looked into hours and conditions of work.
> In general, the working hours were 12 hours per day, seven
> days a week. Six weeks of work are followed by two weeks of
> fully paid holidays. Wages for unskilled labour are twice
> that of unskilled workers in the area and in the country in
> general. Specialised or skilled workers get much higher
> wages. Workers universally expressed satisfaction with
> their jobs and no one made any complaints about any abuse.
> Some were specifically asked about forced labour and they
> knew nothing about it.
>
> 3. Children are being universally educated, health problems
> are cared for, government clinics have been improved, and
> income generating projects of various kinds are being
> carried on by the Village Communications Committees with
> great success. Schools were new or renovated and had big
> playgrounds. Students looked healthy, were dressed neatly
> dressed in clean uniforms, smiling and physically active,
> outgoing, unafraid, alert to our questions and disciplined.
>
> 4. The social structure of these villages is completely
> different from in Bangladesh, where a relatively few elite
> dominate over the many and siphon off for themselves the
> choicest of government or other benefits coming to the
> villages. We found that there is a relatively small gap
> between the highest and the lowest, economically and
> socially.
>
> 5. There is marked religious and ethnic harmony which makes
> it possible for all religious and ethnic groups to live and
> work freely together. Another factor promoting harmony may
> be that most Burmese and tribals are of a similar religion
> (Buddhism).
>
> 6. The vegetation of the pipeline area was scrub growth or
> secondary growth trees. None of the trees along the
> pipeline appeared to be imposing at all, compared with
> virginal tropical rain forests as in Irian Jaya. There
> could have been little loss of biodiversity due to the
> project.
>
> 7. We stopped near the place where a railroad under
> construction will eventually cross the pipeline. There was
> no one about to interview but it is said that the army used
> forced labour on the railroad. The chief TOTAL official
> said that there was no involvement of TOTAL with the
> railroad in any way, shape or form. The rail bridge near
> Eidayza has not yet been built, so it is clear that the
> railroad has nothing to do with the pipeline construction.
> It is possible, however, that outsiders confused forced
> labour on the railroad with forced labour on the pipeline.
>
> ----
>
> YADANA GAS PROJECT IN MYANMAR (BURMA)
>
> Status report, Summer 1998
>
> From the very outset, the development of the Yadana
> gas
> field in Burma (Myanmar) has attracted much
> controversy
> in the international press and on Internet, and much
> attention for TOTAL as operator of this project.
> While
> we fully respect all sincere opinions given in good
> faith, we consider it essential to establish the
> facts
> concerning our presence and working conditions in
> Burma.
>
> The information on the following pages is taken from
> documents published by TOTAL and by its partners in
> Myanmar UNOCAL and PTT E&P.
>
> (Photos by D. Klein, A. Mahuzier, Bervialle - TOTAL
> Project Team)
>
> *
>
> * General facts, timetable and status report
> * Consequences of the project for the local
> population and economy
> * Discussion of main criticisms
> * Environmental aspects
> * Humanitarian aspects :report on the Yadana
> project
>
> History and localization || Project description || Timetable ||
> Status report
>
> In July 1992, Total signed a Production Sharing Contract with
> Myanmar's national oil company, Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise
> (MOGE). The contract involved the appraisal, development and
> production of gas on the Yadana offshore field, located in the
> Gulf of Martaban, approximately 70 kilometers from the Myanmar
> coast (refer to map). A delineation drilling survey was
> conducted in 1993. This yielded very positive results and
> indicated natural gas reserves of over 5 Tcf (140 billion cubic
> meters). This ranks Yadana as a giant field.
>
> In February 1993, Total began negotiations with the Petroleum
> Authority of Thailand (PTT), the latter wanting to import
> natural gas in order to fire Thai power stations. These
> negotiations led to the signing of a Gas Sales Agreement on
> February 2, 1995
>
> [map]
>
> [red line] The Yadana Project gas pipeline
> [blue and white line] The future domestic gas pipeline
>
> History and localization || Project description || Timetable ||
> Status report
>
> Starting in 1998, Yadana gas production will supply
> neighbouring Thailand and Myanmar.
>
> Most of the gas will be sold to Thailand to fire a 2,800
> megawatt power station located in the Ratchaburi region,
> northwest of Bangkok. One-fifth of the gas will be sold in the
> Myanmar domestic market, which is chronically short of energy.
> In all, the Yadana field id expected to produce 650 MMcf/day,
> of which 525 MMcf will go to Thailand and 125 Mmcf to Myanmar.
>
> The estimated capital expenditure is $ one billion (Myanmar
> portion only without operating expenses).
>
> Total (31,24%) is the operator with responsability for carrying
> out preliminary surveys, building the various production
> facilities and operating them during the production phase.
> Otherinvestors are Unocal (28,28%), PTTEP (25,5%), MOGE
> (15,0%).
>
> The development project is divided into three principal phases.
> The first phase involves the installation of the offshore
> platform, and of the export pipeline enabling production to
> start up in july 1998. The second and third phases will begin 7
> and 12 years later, respectively, when gas compression
> platforms are added to the production complex in order to keep
> through-flow at the agreed level.
>
> Offshore installations
>
> The offshore production complex consists of two wellhead
> platforms, a production platform and an accomodation platform.
> The two wellhead platforms are located about 3.5 km apart. Gas
> will be transported from these platforms through 20 inch
> flowlines to the production platform. Providing living quarters
> for workers on a separate accomodation platform will enhance
> the level of offshore personnel safety.
>
> Gas transportation
>
> The 36-inch export pipeline completes the first 346 km of the
> offshore route at a maximum depth of 148 metres. Once reaching
> the myanmar coast close to Daminseik-a small fishing village in
> the Tenasserim region-it continues on for 63 km to the Thai
> border. The pipeline is buried for the entirety of its onshore
> route through Myanmar, as well as for the shore approach. The
> onshore facilities consist of a metering station, block valve
> stations, a wharf and air landing strip.
>
> KEY FIGURES
>
> INITIAL GAS IN PLACE
5 TCF
> (140Gm3) 650 mmscfd
> AVERAGE PRODUCTION AT PLATEAU (18M m3/day)
> TOTAL DURATION:
30 years
> PLATEAU:
16 years
> PROJECT COST (in Myanmar only, excluding operating costs) US
> $1 BILLION
>
> CONCERNS:
>
> 1. That the projects may not be self-sustaining unless there is a
> continuing helpful, though not dominating, presence in the area,
> e.g., some NGO. It is said that TOTAL will look after projects for
> three years beyond completion of the Yadana Project; their current
> three year plan includes a lower level of funding to continue the
> socio-economic projects. There are rubber and cashew plantations
> supported by TOTAL, but one grower said that he did not know where to
> market the rubber.
>
> 2. That regular savings should be encouraged to be sure that enough
> profit is accumulated to perpetuate or even increase the level of
> investment in successive phases. If half-grant, half-loan was given
> for projects, the returned amount could go into a Village Development
> Fund, which would see to it that all families get a chance to have
> some improvement project.
>
> RECOMMENDATIONS:
>
> 1. It is very encouraging to see that people have not become
> dependent on TOTAL for marketing their produce under income
> generating projects. However, the concerned growers have to be
> provided with know-how to process cashew nuts and to carry out
> tapping and marketing of rubber.
>
> 2. There is one primary school in every village the team visited.
> There should be more middle schools and a few high schools in these
> villages to facilitate the local students living at home while
> prosecuting their studies. The team found at Kanbauk a large number
> of students who were living at a hostel provided by the local Baptist
> pastor. This is expensive for the parents and discouraging for those
> who want to send their children to high school. Since all schools are
> under government, planning for more higher level schools will have to
> be done in cooperation with the government.
>
> 3. The clinics could be upgraded to treat a greater number of
> diseases and be given more opportunity for surgery. Because of close
> proximity to Thailand, there is great danger of an influx of HIV/AIDS
> into Burma. The project, to the limits of its ability, should help
> create awareness in the Ministry of Health, among doctors and the
> people about the use of family planning and HIV preventive devices.
> The team found only in one clinic an educative poster about HIV/AIDS.
>
> Areas visited: First day, January 6
>
> Eindayaza: This is a Baptist Christian village of 581 Karens, and
> TOTAL contributed to the reconstruction of the village church. There
> are 10 persons on the Village Communications Committee and they meet
> twice a month, while all the villagers meet once a week. Males and
> females work together on all projects and are equal in all ways. We
> found that their religion seems to make a great difference in their
> harmonious and peaceful way of life. There is no drinking and no
> abuse of women in their society. The children looked normal, with no
> evident signs of malnutrition. There is no longer any communal
> ownership of land but all families hold individual title deeds, which
> they take good care of and realise their importance. They can rent
> land at a rate of only 1.5 kyat per acre.
>
> The workers said that they had received 400 k. per day, while the
> rate for day labour of unskilled workers was 200 k. per day in the
> area. From their village 37 men worked on the pipeline. We also
> interviewed one of the nine in the village who had received
> compensation for his land. He got 280,000 k. for his betel nut
> orchard, and got the trees after cutting. With his money he bought a
> 1/3 share in a work elephant for 250,000 k. and it is used for 10
> months in the year, earning 300,000 k. profit annually. He has a
> receipt for the money received. He considers the payment he got was
> more than fair.
>
> We were highly impressed with the development projects for the
> people, which are carried out with the Village Communications
> Committee. They raise chickens for eggs, which they sell at 12 k.
> apiece and each one can make 50-70 k. per day. The chickens have not
> suffered from any diseases. They were all vaccinated at the time of
> purchase. TOTAL built a new school building at the old site, where
> two matriculated girls are teaching. In all there are five
> matriculates in the village. Now all the children go to school.
> Teachers are paid by government and TOTAL does not try to enhance
> their salaries so as not to disrupt the local system.
>
> A historic opportunity for development and new openings ||
> Consequences of the project for local population and economy ||
> Socio-economic actions
>
> A historic opportunity for development and new openings
>
> Gas production, which in the future will represent a very large
> part of Myanmar exports, is a historic opportunity for economic
> and social development for the people of what is one of the
> world's poorest nations. Start-up of production in 1998 will
> bring in revenues to the country for a period of thirty years.
> The national taxes will be partly paid in kind, in the form of
> natural gas for local use.
>
> A historic opportunity for development and new openings ||
> Consequences of the project for local population and economy ||
> Socio-economic actions
>
> . Gas will be supplied to the Domestic Market
>
> The level of national demand for gas was not sufficient to
> justify the development of an offshore gas field. To allow for
> such an investment, the level of production i.e. the amount of
> yearly proceeds has to ensure a reasonable pay out of the
> investment. Exporting quantities to Thailand is not only a
> means of earning export revenues, but also allows a level of
> cashflow that makes the development economically feasible.
>
> The 125 MMscf/d reserved for domestic demand will be used in
> the area of Yangon and in the Tenasserim region, mostly for
> power generation which is a must for economic development.
>
> . Government take
>
> No tax will be paid before the start-up of production i.e.
> 1998, and as MOGE has elected to take 15% interest in the
> project, it is bearing its share of the invesment
> (approximately US $ 150 million). Little tax will be paid
> during the first 3 years of production.
>
> For the country, the cumulated revenue will become positive in
> 1999. As part of this revenue is in kind (domestic gas), the
> cash flow will become positive in 2002.
>
> . Employment and Training
>
> When the onshore pipeline was laid, the number of men on the
> site reached a peak of 2,500 of which 2,000 Myanmar nationals.
>
> According to the level of their qualifications, workers on the
> site receive 400 to 600 kyat/day, well above local wages.
> Finally, since the beginning of 1996, 74 Myanmar nationals
> (recruited in 1995 and selected from more than 3,500
> applicants) have undergone indepth specialised training in
> Yangon, and then at other petroleum production sites operated
> by Total throughout the world. As a result, they will be able
> to take over most of the technical operationnal jobs as soon as
> production starts on July 1, 1998.
>
> A historic opportunity for development and new openings ||
> Consequences of the project for local population and economy ||
> Socio-economic actions
>
> Socio-economic status report at spring 1998
>
> Seven key objectives were set in early 1995, following
> socio-economic studies of the 13 villages near the pipeline
> route. These objectives served as the basis for the programs
> undertaken in the past year. All projects are designed to be
> managed autonomously by local communities. Training and
> logistic support are provided as required to ensure optimum
> conditions for self-management.
>
> These civil works have been completed according to schedule.
> The socio-economic actions that have been implemented are
> proving to be very promising.
>
> Ohnbinkwin: In this village all are Bamar (Burmese, who form 68% of
> the population of the 13 villages helped by the project), except 2%
> Mon. There is a free clinic, pig and poultry projects and a primary
> school, renovated by TOTAL. One worker who received 1,400 k. per day
> on the project as a mason was home resting from an attack of malaria,
> for which he had been treated at the clinic.
>
> One man got 800,000 k. compensation for his mango, betel nut and
> cashew orchards but when the pipe was laid under a culvert some mud
> flowed out over his land which he says made it unsuitable for
> agriculture. He has applied for more compensation and the case is
> pending.
>
> Thechaung: We visited this village at the request of a Harvard
> Business School Professor who was touring the Yadana Pipeline at the
> time we were. It was not on the schedule, but she asked TOTAL to let
> her pick an additional village so she could compare it with those
> that were scheduled. They did so willingly, although it made the
> schedule tight at the Pipeline Center (and the end of the day). We
> made the extra stop and thus had the opportunity for additional
> interviews.
>
> The Village Communications Committee were happy with their projects
> and said that 36 persons had received training for chicken raising,
> 10 for pig rearing, 14 for rubber cultivation and 10 for cassava
> cultivation. One man was interviewed who worked one month and 11 days
> and was taking two days off; he got 400 k. per day.
>
> Kanbauk: This is the largest village, with a population of 10,000,
> and is the administrative center for the region. We saw a good
> example of communal harmony in that a Hindu temple, Buddhist pagoda,
> Muslim mosque and Baptist church were on the same road, one after
> another. The Muslims we talked to said that they number about 100
> families and they live in harmony with all without discrimination.
> They are constructing a new mosque on the old site.
>
> TOTAL has built a large new brick-built covered market. Most of the
> places have already been taken. There was a wide variety of products
> and produce available in the market and other stalls were springing
> up outside the market.
>
> TOTAL also built a new isolation ward for communicable diseases for
> the government health clinic, which has a number of beds for indoor
> patients, and procured much new equipment for it. The
> doctor-in-charge, paid by TOTAL, performs minor surgery. TOTAL
> sponsors a malaria research project, since this is the worst disease
> in the area.
>
> We met a man who was building a large new carpentry shop for making
> furniture. He was a pipe welder and tester on the project and was
> getting 60,000 per month. From his own and his wife's savings (she
> worked in a shoe shop) they were spending 700,000 to construct the
> new building. He employed 11 men, including a mason and master
> carpenter who got 1,000 per day in wages.