RIASSUNTO
ABSTRACT
The scale and extent of the Papua New Guinea LNG Project, compounded by the complex and fractionalized multiethnic composition of the population, presents significant challenges to conventional community engagement. Construction requires approximately 2,000 ha of land, comprising two large parcels at either end of a 700 km pipeline. These activities impact more than 30,000 people in over 100 communities and many language groups. Resettlement of approximately 400 households in parts of the footprint requires extensive engagement because of the cultural complexity and uniqueness of PNG traditional land tenureship. Challenges include low literacy levels across much of the Project area and a strong and vibrant oral tradition of
storytelling. An additional challenge for community engagement has been the large scale of construction activities at varying stages of execution with competing priorities for support. Field personnel work in remote areas promoting engagement using simple tools which have been developed to overcome cultural and education level challenges, as well as taking into account the local population's ability to assimilate information given their strong cultural attachments and entrenched mindsets. As a result of early engagement experience, it was recognized that this rich cultural diversity would require a flexible approach to community engagement. Traditional engagement approaches and techniques have evolved into more culturally appropriate techniques. This paper addresses the approaches and tools developed by the Project to meet these unique challenges.