EXXONMOBIL'S CEPU PROJECT: LOCAL POPULATION PERSPECTIVE MORE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SURABAYA 000101 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, EB/ESC/IEC DOE FOR CUTLER/PO-32 AND NAKANO/P-42 COMMERCE FOR USDOC 4430 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EPET ECON EINV PGOV PREL ID SUBJECT: EXXONMOBIL'S CEPU PROJECT: LOCAL POPULATION PERSPECTIVE MORE POSITIVE THAN MEDIA PORTRAYAL REF: JAKARTA 1678 SURABAYA 00000101 001.2 OF 002 This message is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) Summary: ExxonMobil's operation of the Cepu oil field has come under harsh media criticism for failure to meet production targets and the expectations of the local population. The situation on the ground, however, paints a different picture. While eager to see more economic impact from the project in their communities, the local populace is generally satisfied with ExxonMobil's community development efforts and uneasy about how political bickering is slowing the project. Local activists complain that ExxonMobil talks directly to village leaders rather than to the activists to determine development priorities. The Regent suggests that ExxonMobil should provide what the population needs -- as determined by the Regency -- rather than what they want -- as determined by the villagers themselves. None believe that transferring operations to national oil company Pertamina would be a positive development. End Summary. Expectations and Realities -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Operations at the Cepu oil field, straddling the border between East and Central Java, have become a source of contention between ExxonMobil and the Indonesian government. The company's difficulties acquiring land and permits slowed construction of the early processing facilities that are necessary to begin shipping oil. BP MIGAS Chairman R. Piryono recently made public statements vowing to revoke ExxonMobil's contract if Cepu was unable to produce 15,000 barrels/day (bpd) by the end of September. ExxonMobil is currently producing 12,000 bpd, but are still constructing the facility that will allow the company to process 40,000 bpd. Further complicating matters, BP MIGAS has not yet approved the engineering/infrastructure projects that would allow Cepu to go to full production up to 160,000 bpd. Even if the project were approved tomorrow, ExxonMobil says there is no technical way to get to full production before 2013. ¶3. (SBU) The media has strongly criticized ExxonMobil and its Cepu operating company, Mobil Cepu Ltd (MCL),for failing to meet production targets and improve economic conditions in the local communities. A number of prominent voices have in turn demanded that national oil company Pertamina take over operations at Cepu. On October 19-20, ConGen Surabaya travelled to Cepu and surrounding communities to get a better understanding of the situation on the ground and the sentiments of local leaders and average citizens. Regency-level officials, village leaders, and local citizens expressed general satisfaction with MCL's operations and community development activities. While all looked forward to reaping the economic benefits of MCL's operations, each had different expectations of what form those benefits should take. Pre-Schools and Employment, To Start -------------- --- ¶4. (SBU) MCL's operations and community development projects are evident in the villages immediately surrounding the facility. Pertamina prohibited MCL officials from meeting with Surabaya's PO, but representatives of IRE, a Yogyakarta-based NGO, offered a tour of village-level projects. IRE works with MCL to facilitate communication with local communities, build community partnerships, and assist in development planning. The IRE rep said that MCL was focused on three areas: health, education, and economic development. He added that in contrast to the "elites" who wanted MCL to build large projects so that they could get their pictures taken at lavish opening ceremonies, villages have different priorities. The IRE rep observed that villagers never expect anything from the government or large companies, so are pleasantly surprised that MCL is following through on its promises, albeit slowly. ¶5. (SBU) The head of a village located within site of the Cepu gas flare said villagers were generally happy with MCL's efforts, thus far. He noted that MCL has hired villagers as security guards and laborers, which was bringing money into the SURABAYA 00000101 002.2 OF 002 village, adding that MCL was careful to hire equal numbers of employees from multiple nearby villages so as to avoid jealousies. Other villagers have started small businesses, such as shops and food stalls, to support the facility's operations. The village head explained that MCL and IRE were careful to discuss all development plans with village leaders and engage them on priorities. All development projects are cooperative efforts between MCL, IRE, and local governments. At the village heads' request, MCL built pre-schools in 18 villages and was now working to improve road conditions. Much still remains to be done and progress was never as fast as anyone would like. Teachers at the schools are unpaid volunteers and education materials are limited. Who Decides on Priorities? -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Self-described village "activists" were more critical of MCL's efforts to date, in particular MCL's limited authority to implement projects and programs without approval from Jakarta or BP MIGAS. They praised ExxonMobil's high standard on Safety and Security issues and environmental concerns, but complained that ExxonMobil's definition of "local" hiring was too broad, and should be limited to people living in core villages near the facility itself. An MCL employee at the meeting was hired from the regency's largest town, Bojonegoro, but the activists didn't consider him "local." They also complained that MCL's development programs did not reflect the activists' priorities. For example, the activists argued that paving village roads should be the first priority, but MCL provided clean water projects instead. The activists added that MCL should consult more with the activists themselves rather than village officials directly because the activists understood what the villagers really needed. ¶7. (SBU) The Regent of Bojonegoro, Drs H. Suyoto, suggested that MCL should look to the regency's development plan to determine what the villagers "need" rather than what they "want." He praised Petrochina for including local government plans in its community development strategy (CDS),suggesting that ExxonMobil was conditioned by the Sukarno era to believe that government didn't speak for the people. He did not elaborate on what form Petrochina's CDS took. Suyoto observed that it did not matter to the regency who operated the field, so long as it was operated well since Bojonegoro had a 4.6% stake in the operation through its BUMD (Regional Government Owned Enterprise). ¶8. (SBU) Suyoto said he had to continually remind the population that oil is just one element of Bojonegoro's economy, and would not provide sufficient revenues or employment for the entire population. He explained that the Regency would receive only 6% of the project's total revenue. If that total were distributed equally to each resident, each person would only receive approximately Rp 2 million (200 USD). It was better, Suyoto argued, for the Regency to invest in infrastructure, education, and health and to encourage entrepreneurship to improve the quality of life and build the economy for the long term. MCCLELLAND