Chevron in Bangladesh

At Chevron, the core priority is to deliver affordable energy safely and reliably to support economic development. As a partner with governments, suppliers and communities, Chevron contributes to health care, education and economic development for mutual benefit and progress. 

Chevron's subsidiary in Bangladesh is not only the country's largest natural gas producer - supplying around 50% of Bangladesh's natural gas consumption from its three gas fields in the northeast – but also the country's largest foreign investor.In Bangladesh, thousands of people in and around Chevron's areas of operation in the country's northeast are being benefitted through partnerships the company has forged with the community and NGOs in a collective bid to address a range of socioeconomic issues.

Chevron demonstrates its commitment to the communities where it operates by generating jobs, employing local workforces, and supporting local supply chains. In 2014, we spent over $13 million on materials and labour from local suppliers based around our areas of operation – of this, $7 million alone was spent during the course of the Bibiyana Expansion (BYX) Project. We provided employment opportunities for nearly 1,700 local workers, of whom about 1,100 were for the BYX Project.

Chevron initiated a planned and structured social responsibility programming in 2005, during the development of Bibiyana – now Bangladesh's largest producing gas field. We realized that our initiatives would never have a lasting impact unless they were focused on the community's key needs, and designed to empower and energize them to drive their own futures. Communities were engaged mostly in traditional agro-based activities, (ploughing with oxen, cattle, etc.), with Chevron being the only industrial entity in the area. 27% of the 3,126 families surveyed lived on less than $2 a day, while about 40% lived below poverty line, i.e. less than 2,000 k/cal/day. 36% could not read or write and only 7% had finished high school. The drop-out rates were high, and qualified, trained teachers were scarce. There were no healthcare facilities in the area. 76% of the population was dependent on traditional faith-healers, and 76% used unhygienic sanitation.

Chevron started The Alternative Livelihood Program in 2006 with 200 underprivileged families in Bibiyana to enhance income through various capacity buildinginitiatives. The main objectives of the program were to establish “village development organizations”, a forum for organizing villagers into self-help groups, providing skills training and seed funds. Over the past decade, this program has engaged more than 3,700 families in all three field locations. A two years program launched in 2014 provided skills-based training for job placement and enterprise development opportunities to 498 unemployed youths and women.

Chevron-sponsored Alternative Livelihood Program has helped more than 2,700 families in Bangladesh to setting up their own livelihood development enterprises.

In September 2015, Chevron partnered up with BRAC, the world's largest NGO, on an 18-month enterprise development pilot under the BPI. Under this pilot, 20,000 people living near Chevron's gas-fields will be targeted and it is expected that about 1,500 enterprises will be established.

To efficiently deliver quality support to the community's doorstep, Chevron Bangladesh sponsors three community clinics. The Smiling Sun clinics, which are managed by Pathfinder International, are part of the USAID/DFID-sponsored nationwide NGO Health Service Delivery Program (NHSDP). The clinics also support 34 satellite clinics, to penetrate the communities at the grassroots level. Currently, around 130,000 patient services are provided via the clinics and satellites every year.

In 2015, in partnership with Save the Children, we announced a three year extension of the Non-Formal Primary Education (NFPE) program for the communities residing near Chevron's Bibiyana, Jalalabad and Moulavi Bazar Gas Plants. 1,800 out-of-school children in 60 one-room community schools completed a pre-primary component during the first phase of this collaboration with Chevron. In addition, 1,200 primary-school students will benefit from after-school enrichment activities and remedial support. The project is also set to include training for 120 teachers; parenting education services for 1,800 parents, and the formation of 60 Center Management Committees.

One of the paramedics while providing health care services to the community through the Chevron-supported network of three Smiling Sun clinics and 34 satellite clinics.

Being a Good Neighbor

Chevron employees are active members of the community. In 2014, more than 1,100 employees donated blood during Chevron's annual drive. The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society recognized Chevron as the largest corporate blood donor for 2013 and 2014.

Chevron employees have also helped plant nearly 16,000 saplings along roadsides and around schools, homes, clinics and tea-growing estates near its three fields.

Chevron has launched a comprehensive road-safety awareness program for the communities near the Bibiyana gas field and the city of Sylhet. In the first year, nearly 190 drivers received defensive driving training. In 2014 alone, materials were distributed to 4,000 schoolchildren and 60 teachers at 25 schools in the Bibiyana area. Six Community Road Safety Awareness groups were also formed.

Being the largest foreign investor with more than 4,000 Bangladeshis employed, Chevron wants to continue its pursuit of excellence.