TODAY.AZ / Business

Second stage of audit of Azerbaijan section of BTC and SCP Pipelines completed

16 November 2006 [12:09] - TODAY.AZ
The National Non-Governmental-Organizations (NGOs) that took part in audit of the Azerbaijan section of the BTC Oil Export Pipeline/ SCP Gas Pipeline completed the second stage of the Program conducted with the assistance of The Open Society Institute - Assistance Foundation, OSI-AF coordinator Rovshan Bagirov told at a press conference.

He said that BTC/SCP NGO Monitoring/Audit Program was launched in April 2004 when a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with OSI AF Azerbaijan for realization of the monitoring assessment of BTC pipeline construction by local NGOs in 2004-2005. Subsequently upon completion of the program's monitoring round, BP and OSI AF Azerbaijan signed second Memorandum of Understanding in August 2005 for realization of the audit of SCP pipeline construction by local NGOs in 2005-2006. With support of BP/BTC OSI-AF provided efficient training and mentoring components in regard with the audit methodology, audit analysis, planning, data collection, PR techniques, report writing, presentation skills etc.

Project coordinator Esmira Asadullayeva said the goal of the second stage of the Program was to introduce local NGOs to advance audit practices, to give local NGOs closer look on how do BTC/SCP work, to challenges and solutions associated with project, to build among local NGOs capacity for developing solid recommendations that project can act upon, to build open and transparent dialogue between company and civil society.

Other coordinator Zohrab Ismayil said that within their roles and responsibilities and under working plan local NGO participants conducted audit of BTC and SCP pipelines. While the first round covered five monitoring areas as Social, Human Rights, Environment, Archaeology, Local Content, the second also included Follow-up Group, which particularly verified the performance of company as per it's commitments from the first round of the program.

All parties involved gave great importance to open discussion and dialogue on report findings and recommendations and for BP representatives to provide their response.

As a result of this monitoring program, some findings and recommendations were identified and taken on board by BP. There were also areas where parties disagreed or where the Working Groups agreed to follow-up the discussion in the next round of monitoring.

OSI's role in this program was to act as the principal donor and cover all costs associated with implementation of monitoring and audit exercises by NGO participants such as salaries, travel and living expenditures, purchase of equipment etc.

BP acted as the facilitator and provided technical and organizational support including relevant health, safety, security and environmental training for on site activities, transportation and logistical arrangements to NGOs for the implementation of monitoring and audit exercises. This includes making company's time, personnel, equipment, facilities, records, procedures and documents (and also translation of them if the Azerbaijani version of the original doesn't exist) available to all program participants. BP has covered the costs for services of international audit expert from UK who conducted monitoring/audit training and coaching for local NGO participants.

"Business and civil society have much to learn from one another, and there is great value in open dialogue. We have been very pleased with the NGO Monitoring and Audit program, and will continue to support and partner with members of civil society in Azerbaijan interested in working constructively with BP. We congratulate both OSI and the NGO participants on the successful conclusion of this important program" – says Dan Bliss, BP. APA

URL: http://www.today.az/news/business/32671.html

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