BSP funds Heart of Borneo blueprint

BRUNEI Shell Petroleum Company (BSP) is teaming up with the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources (MIPR) to fund the development of a blueprint for Brunei's role in the Heart of Borneo (HOB) initiative.

The partnership to produce Brunei's HOB Project Implementation Framework (PIF) received official recognition yesterday with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two agencies.

The agreement was signed by Permanent Secretary of Industry and Primary Resources Dato Paduka Hj Mohammad Hamid and the BSP managing director Dr Grahaeme Henderson.

Present as main witness and guest of honour at the signing ceremony was Minister of Industry and Primary Resources Pehin Orang Kaya Setia Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Ahmad.

At the ceremony, BSP also presented MIPR with a mock $203,000 cheque that represented part of the company's funding commitment to the development of the PIF.

According to the BSP managing director, the collaboration is an extension of the company's existing practices in environmental conservation and stewardship.

BSP has integrated a number of internationally-benchmarked policies, practices, standards and controls to ensure environmental sustainability to ensure the sustainable development of the country's hydrocarbon resources, he pointed out.

Its continuous drive to produce oil and gas in a "green manner" can be seen from its use of new cutting-edge technology, its production and marketing of liquefied natural gas as a cleaner alternative for commercial fuel, and compliance to ISO 14001 certification requirements, the company said.

The company also offers its resources and expertise to government stakeholders for projects that promote environmental sustainability, added Dr Henderson.

"Environmental imperatives are routinely factored into all major business decisions and we continue to make significant progress in key areas of our environmental performance across our operations," he said.

These include sponsoring the research centre in the Temburong National Park, scientific studies at UBD and Museum Brunei and the Princess Rashidah Young Nature Scientist Award.

The MIPR permanent secretary lauded BSP's involvement in the HOB initiative, remarking that it proved the country's public-private partnership in the conservation project to be effective and proactive.

Dato Hj Mohammad Hamid also highlighted the commitment of the government in the project, which is demonstrated by the close involvement of the minister, deputy minister and other senior officials.

The HOB project aims to conserve more than 200,000 square kilometres of rainforest on the island. Initiated in 2005, it has been endorsed by the leaders of Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia January this year during the Asean Summit in Cebu, Philippines.

In February, the ministers responsible for forestry signed the HOB Declaration in Bali, Indonesia.

The Brunei Times