| QGC and UQ to partner on social performance |
QGC Limited, a BG Group business, and The University of Queensland’s Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining (CSRM) have entered a three-year partnership to assist the company in meeting its social performance and sustainable development objectives in Australia and globally.
The partnership will involve QGC, a leading explorer and producer of coal seam gas, and the CSRM working jointly on a range of initiatives including professional development and applied research into community issues related to major resources projects. Together, QGC and the CSRM aim to boost the knowledge base of the industry by analysing and strategically managing issues arising from QGC projects, including the company’s priority development, the Queensland Curtis LNG project.
QGC Managing Director Catherine Tanna said QGC’s guiding business principles provided the foundation for the company’s participation in the partnership, in particular that the company works to ensure that neighbouring communities benefit from its presence on an enduring basis.
She said the agreement would assist QGC to meet its social performance commitments, build relationships with key stakeholders and contribute to the professional development of QGC and BG Group personnel.
“We believe that companies that operate responsibly are also companies that prosper economically,” Ms Tanna said. “Queensland Curtis LNG is a multi-billion project that will generate significant benefits and involve dozens of communities, hundreds of businesses and thousands of people drawn from throughout Queensland and Australia.
“This agreement with the CSRM will help us better understand issues of importance to the communities in which we operate, ensure we maximise the benefits of our project for local people and provide important research that will contribute to solutions that help mitigate, or avoid, unwanted impacts,” she said.
The CSRM, one of six centres in UQ’s Sustainable Minerals Institute, has previously worked with peak industry organisations, individual companies, government and non-government bodies on research in the areas of indigenous people and mining, community engagement and development, impact assessment, monitoring and management and conflict management.
“QGC’s partnership with the CSRM is a commendable commitment by the company to understand community issues arising in major resources projects and to link its responses to high-quality research,” said UQ Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paul Greenfield. “This partnership also aligns with UQ’s commitment to strengthening engagement with industry and presents a new opportunity to provide knowledge that will benefit both industry and communities.”
The CSRM was established by UQ (www.uq.edu.au) in 2001 in response to growing interest in, and debate about, the role of the mining and minerals industry in contemporary society. The centre’s focus is the socio-economic and political challenges that confront companies, communities and governments when change is brought about by resource extraction.
The CSRM has contributed to industry change processes through leading research, post-graduate teaching, professional education, research-orientated consulting and pro bono work. The CSRM has global reach, with particular experience in Australia and the Asia Pacific region.
Notes to editors
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QGC Limited (ACN: 089 642 553) is a leading Australian coal seam gas explorer and producer focused on supplying cleaner hydrocarbon energy to growing domestic and international markets. QGC is establishing one of Australia’s largest capital infrastructure projects to turn world-class reserves of coal seam gas into liquefied natural gas (LNG). Queensland Curtis LNG, a priority project for QGC, involves expanding exploration and development in southern and central Queensland and transporting gas via a 380km buried pipeline to Curtis Island near Gladstone, where it will be liquefied. For further information visit: www.qgc.com.au or www.qclng.com.au
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BG Group plc (LSE: BG.L) is a world leader in natural gas, with a strategy focused on connecting competitively-priced resources to specific, high-value markets. Active in 27 countries on five continents, BG Group has a broad portfolio of exploration and production, liquefied natural gas (LNG), transmission and distribution and power generation business interests. It combines a deep understanding of gas markets with a proven track record in finding and commercialising reserves. For further information go to www.bg-group.com
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Rob Millhouse +61 (0) 419 588 166 rob.millhouse@bg-group.com
Mark Todd +61 (0) 417 602 838 mark.todd@bg-group.com
Paul Larter +61 (0) 400 776 937 paul.larter@bg-group.com
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Edel McCaffrey +44 (0) 118 929 3508 edel.mccaffrey@bg-group.com
Jo Thethi +44 (0) 118 929 3110 jo.thethi@bg-group.com
Out of hours UK media mobile: +44 (0) 791 718 5707
Investor Relations (UK): +44 (0) 118 929 3025 invrel@bg-group.com
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There are matters discussed in this media information that are forward looking statements. Such statements are only predictions and actual events or results may differ materially. For a discussion of important factors which could cause actual results to differ from the forward looking statements, refer to BG Group’s annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 December 2008. BG Group does not undertake any obligation to update publicly, or revise, forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent legally required.
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