Stakeholder and External Relationship Management for Transport in the Operate stage

Objective

The objectives of this activity are to:

• Undertake further stakeholder engagement according to the stakeholder management plan
• Maintain the key regulatory consents and approvals for the operation of the pipeline transport system (project)

The aims of the further stakeholder engagement is to maintain an effective communication interface with stakeholders (including Government, Statutory Authorities, Non-Government Agencies and Communities), and to use a reliable and robust feedback system to inform the operation of the project.  This will allow the key regulatory consents and approvals for the operation of the project to be maintained. 

Additionally, based on the likelihood that there may be a number of stakeholders affected by the project (i.e. landowners / land occupiers), undertaking appropriate stakeholder and external relations throughout the ‘Operate’ stage will allow the stakeholders affected to:

• Understand the operational project (and its associated impacts) such that any concerns which they may have which result from misunderstandings / misinformation can be remedied at the earliest possible stage
• Understand how the mitigation measures and monitoring programmes are being undertaken
• Provide open feedback to developers
• Further identify ways in which the project could (without significant costs) support the wider objectives of stakeholders

Effective stakeholder and external relations engagement will lead to an operational project which is acceptable to the stakeholders affected. 

Major Deliverables

The major deliverables under this stage are:

• An Updated Stakeholder Register
• Compliance with Key Regulatory Consents / Approvals for the Project

Tasks 

Updated Stakeholder Register

The stakeholder register should provide details of the stakeholders who are likely to be required / contacted throughout the various project stages. 

Therefore, based on the outcomes of the ‘Define’ and ‘Evaluate’ stages, the specific tasks associated with updating the stakeholder register (as a minimum) are to:

• Update the stakeholder contact details (if required)
• Update the stakeholder engagement requirements to determine whether there is a need for any further information / details on the project to be distributed
• Record any further information / details on the project which are distributed
• Record any information / details / comments / feedback received from stakeholder engagement on the project
• Record if there are any actions required based on the information / details / comments / feedback received from stakeholder engagement
• Update further stakeholder engagement requirements to collect information / details / feedback on the project (including: what would be required from the stakeholder; when they would be collected from the stakeholder; and, how they are likely to be collected from the stakeholder) 

Maintain the Key Regulatory Consents / Approvals for the Project

Based on the identification and evaluation of the requirements of any regulatory and environmental issues surrounding the project, effective management and engagement of stakeholders (including Government, Statutory Authorities, Non-Government Agencies and Communities) will ensure that all parties are fully informed on the project.  This will increase the likelihood of maintaining compliance with the key regulatory consents and approvals.  This may include:

• The monitoring / reporting of appropriate data to the appropriate stakeholders (including Government, Statutory Authorities, Non-Government Agencies and Communities)
• The production and submission of appropriate documentation verifying the monitoring / reporting of appropriate data 

Examples

There are numerous publications available on:

• The Global CCS Institute website 

Considered to be of particular relevance are:

• Public Engagement Self Assessment Tool
• Social Site Characterisation: From Concept to Application
• Rotterdam CCS Network Project: Case Study on ‘Lessons Learnt’
• The Management of Public Engagement at the Local, State and Federal Levels for the Tenaska Trailblazer Energy Center Project 
• Communication, Project Planning and Management for Carbon Capture and Storage Project: An International Comparison 

Key Personnel

• Project Manager
• Environmental Manager
• Public Relations Manager