BP has been operating in Colombia since 1987. Our core business is the exploration and production of oil and gas, with major activity in the Cusiana and Cupiagua complex, located in the eastern province of Casanare, 200 kilometres from Bogota. BP operated fields currently produce a total of 240,000 barrels a day and account for 40% of Colombia’s total crude oil production.
Since the Voluntary Principles were agreed in December 2000, we have been working to put them into practice in Colombia. Our efforts have included:
- Building a more open and transparent relationship with the state armed forces. A key step in this process was the agreement in 1998 between our partner, the state oil company, Ecopetrol, and the Ministry of Defence for the protection of the BP operated oil installations. Apart from those sections directly discussing provision of operational security, it is available to the public. It is periodically audited, and provides a regular forum where community concerns can be discussed.
- Building the Voluntary Principles into all BP Colombia contracts with private security providers. We have commenced an open dialogue with our contractors on how best to apply the principles, given the current challenging environment of conflict and hold periodic meetings dedicated to issues concerning their implementation. The principles are complemented by a code of conduct that each contractor has adopted. We can also conduct audits to assess compliance at any time.
- During 2002, an internal assurance exercise was carried out aimed at measuring the level of compliance with the principles and providing a road map for the future. As a result of this exercise, assurance meetings are now held on a twice-yearly basis to discuss security and human rights issues affecting our operations, to update risk assessments, and to review compliance with the Voluntary Principles.
In parallel we have encouraged and supported government initiatives to strengthen the judiciary and the rule of law in Casanare. In 2003 a ‘House of Justice and Peace’ will be built and established in Yopal, the capital of Casanare. The objective of this program, which is actively supported by the Colombian and US governments, is to extend access to justice to all citizens.