Communities and shared value

Impact assessment and management

Assessing the impacts of our operations

Our aim is to maximize the positive impacts that arise due to our operations. Therefore, we work hard to know well and analyze the context as well as the specific social, economic, and cultural aspects of the areas where we operate.

Due to the nature of our operations and our presence in numerous countries, we are aware that our activities affect a large number of very different populations in very different ways. In order to address this challenge, we have a set of processes and activities aimed at preventing and mitigating our impact and maximizing social opportunities in the communities.

How do we do it?

Performing Environmental, Social, and Health Impact Assessments (ESHIA)

The first thing we do prior to beginning our operations is to get to know and analyze the context as well as the area's specific social, economic, and cultural aspects.

Similarly, and in collaboration with the local public authorities and social organizations, we identify the expectations, needs, and aspirations of the communities we have dealings with.

To that end, we perform Environmental, Social, and Health Impact Assessments (ESHIA). These assessments ensure that all potential impacts are identified as early as possible in the life cycle of a project, so that they're taken into account in the project's own design with the aim to prevent and mitigate its effects.

Developing a social impact assessment methodology

As of 2011, we have a company-wide internal environmental, social, and health impact assessment regulation in place that includes human rights in this assessment process.

The scope of this regulation includes the human rights set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and the principles regarding rights established in the International Labor Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and the eight Fundamental Conventions that implement them.

In 2014, we developed our own assessment impact methodology. It's an internal support guide for units that perform environmental, social, and health impact assessments that incorporate a focus on human rights as part of the impact assessment process.

The phases of this methodology are as follow:

Phases of impact management methodology chart

Designing solutions for possible impacts

Given the nature of our operations and our presence in numerous countries, we are aware that our impacts vary.

Our potential impacts may mainly arise in refineries and chemical complexes or in our exploration and production operations. Based on each context and local reality, through participatory, proactive, and ongoing dialogue, we seek the appropriate solutions in each case.

Impact management | pdf | 216 KB >