John Aglionby, Jakarta – Three hundred non-governmental organisations and individuals yesterday wrote to Lord Browne, the chief executive of energy group BP, to express their "mounting concerns" over the company's failure to meet human rights commitments made two years ago in a multibillion pound natural gas project in Indonesia.
The signatories also claim there is a "worrying lack of transparency" in the Tangguh development in the eastern Papua province and "a failure to acknowledge the disturbing realities of the wider west Papua context."
They include John O'Reilly, a former BP Indonesia vice-president who oversaw much of the project's early development, New Zealand MPs, non-governmental organisations from around the world and hundreds of Papuans.
The letter urges Lord Browne not to give final approval for construction of the gas trains until these issues are addressed. A copy was also sent to former American senator George Mitchell, who is the chairman of the Tangguh independent advisory panel and due to visit Indonesia soon.
BP has spent more than three years developing the 2.65 billion Pound Tangguh project in the Bintuni Bay area of Papua, the rugged, mountainous western half of New Guinea Island. It has estimated reserves of 14.4 trillion cu ft but has failed to win an important contract with China. It has secured a smaller deal with Beijing as well as contracts with the United States, Mexico and South Korea.
Lord Browne who recently visited Indonesia to assess the project, was expected to decide whether to proceed by the end of this year. If he does give approval, start-up is scheduled for mid-2008.
Specific concerns highlighted in the letter include BP's failure to implement human rights commitments made two years ago; refusal to publish a memorandum of understanding with the Indonesian police after promising local people security would be community-based; refusal to publish a forthcoming report on Tangguh's human rights performance; and a refusal to use its influence to help stabilise the deteriorating local political situation.
Mr O'Reilly told the Guardian these are not "soft-option extras" but "have to be an integral part of the project and cannot be allowed to drift".
A BP spokesman confirmed the company had received the letter but declined to comment. Last month a BP official, Emma Delaney, wrote to groups monitoring the project stressing the company "remains committed to meeting all aspects of the voluntary principles".
Barclays bank will today face protests about its human rights record in Thailand and India at a human rights conference in London. The campaigners are complaining about the bank's involvement in Omkareshwar Dam in India and the trans-Thai-Malaysia gas pipeline. Barclays said it complied with the internationally recognised Equator principles with regard to its dealings with the Thailand pipeline but said it had no direct involvement in the controversial Indian project.