Acclaimed in Johannesburg

Statoil was among four winners of the 2002 World Summit Business Award for Sustainable Development Partnerships during the climate summit at Johannesburg in South Africa.

More than 120 companies from 37 countries were nominated, and Statoil won for its participation in the energy biodiversity initiative (EBI).

This is a grouping of five environmental organisations with four oil and gas companies.

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) named the EBI as one of four partnerships making a global contribution to sustainable development.

In addition to Statoil, oil companies in the grouping are BP, ChevronTexaco and Shell International.

They are partnered by Conservation International, Fauna & Flora, the Smithsonian Institution, the Nature Conservancy and the World Conservation Union.

Formed in January 2001, the EBI aims to integrate biodiversity concerns in a better way with oil and gas operations.

Its members exchange experience and build up intellectual capital to achieve this aim. The EBI develops management tools and makes recommendations.

“It’s encouraging that we’ve won this award,” says Eli Aamot, environment vice president at Statoil.

“Integrating the EBI’s recommendations in our operations and new projects at home and abroad will be challenging.”