Challenge
Shell Gas & Power proposed constructing a new terminal on the Caribbean coast and a pipeline to connect to existing infrastructure. Obtaining the political approval of local, state, and national government requires the completion of health, safety and environmental impact assessments, coordinated engagement with all affected stakeholders, and a revenue management mechanism that re-distributes profits locally and regionally.

Approach
• Synergy managed external affairs and sustainable development aspects for the project team.
• We developed tools and methodologies to help the investment partners to identify and track important strategic issues, map those issues to stakeholders, and develop appropriate management responses.
• Our approach was to integrate sustainable development management within the overall investment strategy.

Value
• An integrated approach, in the early stages of an investment, gave our client the ability to identify emerging issues and incorporate citizen concerns in the final form of project.
• The final site selection and project implementation will represent the most favoured option for mitigating negative impacts.
• Our recommendation for a social investment strategy enhances the direct and indirect benefits of the investment.
• Our approach improves our client’s competitive ability to obtain both official regulatory and political permission and a social ‘licence to operate’.
• The consultation process will reduce the likelihood of disputes and serve as a lasting mechanism for dialogue between stakeholders and the client.