Shwe Gas Movement Report - September 2011
On 5 September Shwe Gas Movement, a Burmese community-based human rights NGO, issued the report: "Sold Out: Launch of China pipeline project unleashes abuse across Burma". The report alleges human rights abuses taking place in the construction of the Shwe gas pipeline, including displacement, forced labour, discrimination, sexual violence and other forms of violence, and killings. The report also states that the pipeline is fueling conflict and will drain Burma of the natural gas resources it needs to develop.
Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited the companies named in the report to respond to the allegations. See below for the company responses.
After reviewing the company responses, on 22 Nov Shwe Gas Movement sent a rejoinder [PDF] to the Resource Centre. We then invited the companies to respond to the rejoinder.
Company responses to Shwe Gas Movement's rejoinder (as of 14 Dec 2011)
Daewoo International responded with the following statement, "Daewoo's comprehensive report will be published in early December.Hopefully, the report will help your understanding of our project."
- NEW - [PDF] "A Comprehensive Report to better understand the Shwe Project", Daewoo International, Dec 2011
CITIC Group said it had no further comment
Hyundai Heavy Industries and Petroleum Services Consultancy did not have a response this week; both companies said they may have a response next week. We are still in communication with managers at Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE). We will indicate in the next Update whether we receive responses from these three firms.
China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL), Hydro China, KOGAS, and Myanmar Golden Crown did not respond.
Company responses to the "Sold Out" report (26 Oct 2011)
CNPC - Has not yet responded. If we receive a response we will post it here and feature it in the next Weekly Update
Citic Group - response
Daewoo - response
GAIL - Has not yet responded. If we receive a response we will post it here and feature it in the next Weekly Update
Golden Crown - Has not yet responded. If we receive a response we will post it here and feature it in the next Weekly Update
Hydro-China - Did not respond
Hyundai Heavy Industries- response
KOGAS - response
Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE) - Has not yet responded. If we receive a response we will post it here and feature it in the next Weekly Update
ONGC Videsh - Has not yet responded. If we receive a response we will post it here and feature it in the next Weekly Update
Petroleum Services Consultancy - Has not yet responded. If we receive a response we will post it here and feature it in the next Weekly Update
Pyidawsi - Contact information for this company is not publicly available
Thandar Nga Ghar - Contact information for this company is not publicly available
China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) - Did not respond
CITIC Group - Response [DOC]
Daewoo International [part of Posco] - In response to a March 2011 EarthRights report about the Shwe pipeline, Daewoo indicated that it was preparing a comprehensive report. In response to the Shwe Gas Movement report, a Daewoo representative sent the following message to the Resource Centre: "The comprehensive report is currently in preperation. We will do our best to provide you the report within the earliest possible time. Thank you for your patience and understanding."
Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) - Did not respond.
Hydro China - Did not respond
Hyundai Heavy Industries - Response [DOC]
Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS) - Response [DOC]
Myanmar Golden Crown - Did not respond
Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE) - Did not respond
ONGC Videsh - Did not respond.
Petroleum Services Consultancy - Did not respond
Pyidawsi - Contact information for this company is not publicly available.
Thandar Nga Ghar - Contact information for this company is not publicly available.
Media coverage of the "Sold Out" report:
"NGO urges halt to Shwe natural gas project", Zwe Khant, Mizzima, 10 Oct 2011