A social impact study of a major proposed gas pipeline is to be carried out by Shell China Exploration and Production with help from the United Nations.
The oil company has agreed to assess China’s 4000km West-East Pipeline project in conjunction with the United Nations Development Programme, which runs development programmes for deprived communities around the world.
Kerstin Leitner, a UNDP representative in China, said the assessment would look at ‘how to strike the right balance between national and local interests’.
Under the agreement, the UNDP will lead a consultation programme along the pipeline route, surveying and interviewing local people, community organizations and others affected by the project.
Academics and ‘independent international social experts’ will carry out the research, which is due to be completed by July.
Martin Bradshaw, president of Shell China, said he hoped UNDP’s involvement as an external agent would ‘deliver a credible and transparent consultation programme’.