OnTheWight always welcomes a Letter to the Editor to share with our readers – unsurprisingly they don’t always reflect the views of this publication. If you have something you’d like to share, get in touch and of course, your considered comments are welcome below.
This from Edmund Checkley, East Cowes. Ed
Dear OnTheWight readers.
There will be many opinions on the pros and cons of the Exxonmobil CO2 carbon Capture pipeline. All opinions are valuable and have merit.
I hope at some point we will see the report on the public consultation, and I expect our MPs and council leaders will take our opinions into consideration.
In 2022 Exxonmobil’s worldwide giving totalled US$ 158 million (£123 million). We want some of this, our share!
How the Island can benefit from the pipeline
It is my opinion that we have an opportunity to benefit from Exxonmobil’s pipeline investment. There is benefit to Exxonmobil being able to say they are doing ‘their bit’ to achieve our net zero targets.
The government’s net-zero strategy requires the oil and gas industry to ‘operate in a way consistent with net zero ambitions, lowering production emissions and making serious progress on the solutions that can contribute to the UK achieving net zero’.
It is in Exxonmobil’s interest to undertake CO2 emission reduction initiatives even though this is seen as ‘greenwashing’. They need to work with us, the Island community, to achieve government targets and avoid penalties.
As part of the public consultation I have put together the following public benefit proposal and have submitted it to Exxonmobile.
Exxonmobil Carbon Capture Pipeline across the Solent and Isle of Wight
Proposal to deliver benefits to the Isle of Wight
The Exxonmobil CO2 capture pipeline infrastructure project must benefit the Island by providing education opportunities for students and the public, support eco-friendly charities, ensure that any works protect and support the Island’s biodiversity reserve, and provide work opportunities to Island businesses.
Furthermore Exxonmobil must liaise closely with the public and stakeholders to minimise any disruption to the community and local businesses, including fishing and farming, and damage to the environment, both on land and sea.
Proposal for Exxonmobil community relations and funding benefits for the Island
Establish an Exxonmobil Island Community Liaison Office
An Exxonmobil ‘Island pipeline Community Liaison Office’ located in Newport is proposed to promote and ensure successful community and business relations. The office will provide a means by which Exxonmobil proactively engage with the community and stakeholders on a regular and ongoing basis to share information and identify issues, concerns, needs, ideas and values, areas of mutual interest, and potential conflicts with the goals and objectives of the CO2 pipeline project and any proposed project activity.
The Island pipeline community liaison office will be theExxonmobil focus for the public to understand and engage with all pipeline planning, construction and operation activities. It will be a walk-in facility where maps and progress reports are displayed with staff available to answer questions. It will be managed by an Exxonmobil officer, staff and volunteers.
Regular site visits by the public will be arranged. Roadshows to community centres and schools will be arranged. The community liaison office, working with the IW council will actively promote the use of local contractors and businesses.
Furthermore the community liaison office will actively manage a grant funding programme that supports the community. The office will consider and mitigate the impact of the pipeline construction on local businesses through funding support or compensation arrangements.
Establish Exxonmobile Grant Fund Initiatives
An Exxonmobil ‘Island pipeline Community Liaison Office’, working with stakeholders and the community, will manage and oversee all Exxonmobil grant funding initiatives as follows.
- For student education, such as university and apprenticeship scholarships in the green energy science field with Exxon career opportunities.
- For local public education charities engaged in emmission reduction, green energy projects towards national net zero targets.
- For projects to protect and support Island biodiversity reserves.
- For projects to support and enhance Island fishing businesses.
- For projects to support and enhance Island farming businesses.
- For infrastructure providing additional empty pipes laid alongside the CO2 pipeline across the Solent and the Island, to be owned by the IW council, available as a council income generator from fibre-optic, water and electricity utilities.
Proposed Exxonmobil grant funds
Grant funding to be available as soon as the project is approved.
- Student education: £500,000 per year for 10 years
- Public education charities: £1 million for year one, then £500,000 per year for five years
- Isle of Wight biodiversity Reserve programmes: £500,000 per year for ten years
- Infrastructure as additional empty pipes for the IW council: Exxon costs.
- Support to enhance farming and fishing businesses: £500,000 per year for five years
- Compensation for disruption to farming and fishing businesses and local transport: – £TBA
- Examples of Exxonmobil Community Relations projects
Since 2000, ExxonMobil contributed $1.6 billion to education programmes and workforce development around the world, including about $158 million in 2022 - 2022 Contributions Benefiting Communities in the United States US$ 7,812,775
- 2022 Contributions Benefiting Communities outside the United States US$ 77,521,992
- 2022 United States: Higher Education Matching Gift Program – US$11 million
- Bioko Island Biodiversity Protection Programme (BBPP) in Equatorial Guinea: Exxon funds wildlife patrols to monitor the legally protected areas of the Island through a monthly census. Also provides funding to open the Moka Wildlife Center, the country’s first biological field station. The centre hosts training sessions and wildlife research programmes.
- Middle Magdalena Valley region in Colombia. Identified potable water treatment systems as a key community need which ExxonnMobil can provide.
- Indonesia Arun and Banyu Urip fields. Provides Industry vocational training to more than 1,200 young people from nearby areas. In addition, 110 Indonesians working in Angola, Cameroon, Malaysia, Nigeria and the United States to trained to expand their graduates skills.
- Western Argentina: Construction led to the discovery of dinosaur fossils. Diverted operations to ensure the integrity of the dig site and funded the first phase of paleontological work, providing materials and services to a team of paleontologists.
- Chad/Cameroon pipeline project: Design and delivery of compensation and social development programs that have a higher probability of long-term sustainability and success.
Exxonmobil Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Community Relations
Exxonmobil’s community investments are designed to support social and economic development in the host countries.
Exxonmobil works with stakeholders to identify and fund initiatives which develop and enhance health, education and infrastructure.
Understanding and addressing the interests of societies and communities is seen as an important component of maintaining a successful and sustainable business.
Quote from the Exxonmobil 2024 Advancing Climate Solutions Report Executive Summary:
“Getting the planet on a path to net zero requires unprecedented innovation and collaboration at immense scale. The ongoing societal effort is critical but must avoid economic hardships.
“Informed by a scientific understanding of our potential environmental impacts and insights into community needs, our integrated socioeconomic management approach helps to avoid, reduce, or remedy risks and identify opportunities to have a positive impact. Our work includes initiatives to support and invest in economic development and respect cultural heritage.”
