Total CEO Visits Myanmar

On a visit to Myanmar, where French oil and gas major Total operates the Yadana offshore gas field, Christophe de Margerie, Chairman and CEO of Total, met with government officials and representatives of civil society.

Christophe de Margerie, Chairman and CEO of Total, traveled to Myanmar on Saturday, June 9. While there, he met with various government officials and representatives of civil society, including President Thein Sein, the country’s Industry Minister and Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate who was elected to Myanmar’s parliament in April.

Christophe de Margerie was accompanied by Jean-Marie Guillermou, Senior Vice President Asia-Pacific, Exploration & Production, Namita Shah, General Manager, Total E&P Myanmar and Jacques-Emmanuel Saulnier, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications.

Myanmar has undertaken a series of reforms in the past year or so. These steps have been welcomed by the international community. In late April, the European Union decided to suspend sanctions against the country for a period of one year, although the arms embargo is being maintained. And in mid-May the United States decided to ease certain restrictions on investments.

These changes are moving Myanmar toward democratization and improved human rights.

“Total is delighted. Against this backdrop of change, the Group intends to broaden its established dialogue with leading stakeholders in Myanmar, to allow it to adjust its local strategy and to consider potential development of its business. Total believes that responsible economic development can improve the human rights situation. This belief has governed its actions in Myanmar for 20 years. Through its industrial operations, its social and economic programs and, more broadly, its corporate social responsibility policies, the Group is determined to stay the course and to help support Myanmar’s development and its nascent transition to democracy,” says the company in a statement.

In Myanmar, Total operates the Yadana field (31.2%). Located on offshore Blocks M5 and M6, this field produces gas that is delivered mainly to PTT (the Thai state-owned company) to be used in Thai power plants.The Yadana field also supplies the domestic market via a land pipeline and, since June 2010, via a sub-sea pipeline built and operated by Myanmar’s state-owned company MOGE.

[mappress]
Offshore Energy Today Staff, June 12, 2012