Impact identification and assessment

Objectives

ExxonMobil’s projects and operations around the world provide socioeconomic benefits within and beyond the communities where we operate.  While there are inherent risks in any type of development or operation, we seek to avoid those risks, reduce them to acceptable levels or remedy the impacts.

Our corporate Environmental Aspects Guide addresses identification and assessment of significant environmental and socioeconomic aspects consistent with our Environment Policy. 

Management and application

We use core processes to systematically identify, assess, manage and monitor environmental and socioeconomic risks and opportunities throughout the life cycles of our assets including:

• Environmental Aspects Assessment.
• Environmental, Socioeconomic and Health Impact Assessment.
• Environmental, Socioeconomic and Health Management Plans.

We engage with local communities and stakeholders to incorporate feedback, scientific understanding and other due diligence into these processes to enable safe and responsible operations. We periodically update these assessments to reflect any changes to operational complexity or socioeconomic sensitivities, amending management plans where needed.  

For example, to manage and mitigate environmental and social impacts related to the ExxonMobil Papua New Guinea Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project, and to meet obligations under Papua New Guinean legislative and regulatory requirements, ExxonMobil Papua New Guinea operates in accordance with the Company’s Production Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP).

The Production ESMP was developed after extensive consultation with stakeholders. It contains environmental and social management and mitigation measures, monitoring requirements established by the Papua New Guinea LNG Environmental Impact Statement, and lessons learned from the project’s construction phase. It also incorporates Operations Integrity Management System requirements, the International Finance Corporation Performance Standards, and other international standards such as the Equator Principles.

The plan consists of three Environmental Management Plans, as shown in the image below, which cover all Papua New Guinea LNG facilities. An additional seven Social Management Plans (SMPs) are based on key social themes. Country-specific content commitments are contained within each of the SMPs, and ExxonMobil Papua New Guinea is accountable for implementing actions defined in the ESMP. More information can be found on Page 5 of the PNG LNG 2020 Annual Report.