social performance
Promoting CSR in Colombia
In 2005, Enbridge signed on
as one of 10 founding
members to the London
Benchmarking Group
Canada (LBG Canada). LBG
Canada is a member-driven
association working toward a higher standard in the management,
valuation and performance measurement of corporate
community involvement. Through the LBG model, Enbridge
is able to value community contributions consistently and
maximize the impact of our corporate community involvement
programs. LBG is a structured process that includes goal setting,
clarity on the investment required to achieve a desired
outcome and then performance measurement of the result.
In adopting this approach, it enhances Enbridge’s ability
to demonstrate the value of our work to key internal and external
stakeholders, and to communicate our achievements
more effectively.
The LBG Model is the most comprehensive and widely used
means of valuing, managing, measuring and benchmarking
corporate community involvement. Development began in 1994
in London, England. Today, the UK membership exceeds 100 and
use of the LBG Model is expanding around the world.
The OCENSA pipeline in Colombia runs from the Cusiana and Cupiagua oilfields in the central
interior of Colombia to the Port of Coveñas on the Caribbean coast. Enbridge provides technical
and management services to this pipeline, which has a 550,000 barrels-per-day capacity.
We entered into this investment in 1994 as our first international venture, and Enbridge has since
transferred to Colombia technology, skills and technical know-how, as well as environment, health,
and safety standards. Enbridge and its OCENSA partners have taken action in Colombia to create
economic, social and environmental value by:
- creating awareness, understanding and respect for human rights (please see the Human
Rights section for more information);
- making corporate social responsibility a priority; and
- engaging all levels of stakeholders – local communities, governments, landowners, NGOs,
contractors, employees and others.
OCENSA published its first CSR report in 2004, which featured its environmental, social and
financial programs and initiatives. Publishing the report was a significant development for OCENSA.
It signaled OCENSA’s commitment to a higher level of public awareness and transparency in
corporate reporting. OCENSA is hopeful that its CSR policies and practices will influence other
companies in Colombia to take similar steps.
And OCENSA is seeing tangible results from its CSR program. Stakeholders are improving
the way they live and work. New forests are growing along the OCENSA pipeline right-of-way.
OCENSA employees and their families, as well as contractors and communities and other groups we interact with on a daily basis have a greater awareness of the importance of respecting human
rights and improving society and the environment. OCENSA will continue to work with these
stakeholders. This is a long-term commitment.
 Top of pageHelping Communities and Individuals
OCENSA sponsors a social and environmental management education program for municipal
administrators, community leaders and students. The program is designed to develop responsible
citizenship by promoting participation in local communities and establishing local business initiatives.
Since 1998, OCENSA has supported the establishment of 16 leadership schools in 25 municipalities
in Colombia to provide this training. More than 2,400
public officials and community leaders have graduated
from the training program, while younger students are
being provided real alternatives to start their own
businesses.
OCENSA has extended its environment,
occupational health and safety training for its workers
to also include communities and families near its
pipeline right-of-way. This program has helped them
improve their skills in various areas of health and safety.
In alliance with government organizations,
OCENSA is helping small farmers increase their
incomes through productivity initiatives. In 2005,
this program helped 1,295 families improve their
incomes and the quality of their produce.
OCENSA is also ‘planting seeds’ to generate
the process of social change in poor and vulnerable
communities through its support of educational –
music, dance and sports – programs for young people.
Top of pageEmergency Preparedness and Response
Emergency preparedness and response programs are
a high priority for OCENSA. The company regularly
updates its Oil Spill Contingency Plan and provides people in local communities with the training
and equipment they require to be effective first responders during emergencies. In 2005, OCENSA
conducted 80 local drills and more than 1,500 people received training in emergency response.
Moreover, the Coveñas offshore terminal participated in the annual National Emergency Response
Exercise, which is led by the Colombian government.
As a part of its commitment to the environment, OCENSA has an ongoing program to plant
trees along its pipeline right-of-way. To date, about 1,970 hectares (4,870 acres) of trees have been
planted. In sensitive shoreline areas, 120 hectares (297 acres) of red mangrove trees, a rare and
endangered species, have been planted with the assistance of local communities.
OCENSA has also purchased 160 hectares (395 acres) of high mountain forest and plans to buy
an additional 120 hectares (297 acres). OCENSA took this action as part of an agreement with
Colombia’s Environment Minister.
OCENSA’s workforce is focused on injury prevention. In 2005, the company’s days-away injury
(DAWC index) registered a rate of 0.11 incidents per 200,000 hours worked.
In 2005, OCENSA obtained two important certifications: ISO 14001:2004 (environmental
management system standard) and OHSAS 18001 (an international occupational health and safety
management system specification). ISO was granted by SGS, a leading inspection, verification, testing
and certification company, and accredited by SIC (the Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio in
Colombia), ANAB (the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board) and UKAS (the United Kingdom
Accreditation Service).
OCENSA reported no oil spills from its pipeline in 2005. |
