How does a community add value to the oil and gas industry?

Abstract

As pressure mounts for oil and gas companies to demonstrate tangible value to the communities in which they operate, there is a growing imperative for groups to actively engage with the industry and its operators. Regions who partner with the industry to identify and implement initiatives that leverage the investment can see very real economic and social gains from hosting oil and gas exploration and production. Venture Taranaki, the regional development agency for New Zealand’s only commercially producing oil and gas region, has been part of such a successful partnership in that area. They have worked extensively in the space between the industry and the community to maximise the benefits to the region. In doing so they have helped position Taranaki as a force in New Zealand’s economy, and it has developed initiatives that demystify and demonstrate the industry’s value to their community stakeholders, extending this momentum across the oil and gas supply chain. Its commercially neutral services have also advanced collaboration among the companies, fostered collective promotion of their capabilities, and assisted with management of demand-supply challenges in relation to project and shutdown planning. In this extended abstract the authors give an insight into their experiences, lessons for other regions, and proposals to further advance the industry-community relationship.