Block Cuu Long River Delta 01 (DBSCL-01), covers 8,200 sq km in Southern Vietnam extending over the three provinces of Bac Lieu, Soc Trang and Tra Vinh. It is a densely populated area with more three million people inhabitants. It is a predominantly agricultural area with rice, paddy, sugar cane, fruit orchards and extensive areas of aquaculture inter-laced with rivers, canals and roads onshore, whilst extensive fishing is carried out in coastal waters.
PetroVietnam and Salamander Energy work in partnership, studying the social and environmental factors at each step of Block DBSCL-01's exploration programme; including social screening, environmental studies and consultation. Through 2008, Salamander provided local employment and delivered on its first CSR project in Vietnam which brought the "explorer" and the "community" together; ensuring good relationships and mutual understanding at all social levels.
The CSR programme was closely aligned with survey operations and focused on supporting education for the most underprivileged children in the provinces. The project successfully delivered 25,000 notebooks and 300 uniforms for poor pupils to enable them to continue their studies. Notebooks were delivered to Hoa Binh, Tra Cu and Duyen Hai Districts, and pupils on the island of Cu Lao Dung (being the poorest district) received notebooks and uniforms.
PetroVietnam and Salamander coordinated with both Provincial and District authorities to ensure that all operations were carried out in an efficient manner with informed local support. Working with Salamander had the additional benefit for local workers of adhering to higher levels of health and safety than are normally prevalent in the region. It is to be hoped that some of these standards will be adopted by the locals to raise the level of health and safety in their everyday activities.
Our respect and enjoyment of Vietnamese traditional customs was demonstrated on the occasion of Tet Trung Thu, the Mid-autumn festival. We organized a lantern party for the orphans in Long Phước Pagoda. (The festival is the equivalent to Halloween in many western countries.)
During 2008, the company, Vietnamese staff and other local stakeholders worked hand-in-hand to implement the CSR strategy. Vietnamese often speak with respect of "a little bit of salt dropped into the sea", so whilst modest, Salamander's CSR and charitable works, underpins our operational integrity and helps to keep this precious delta as it should be.