Publications

Projects undertaken by oil & gas (O&G) companies require a Land Acquisition and Resettlement Action Plan (LARAP) to guide resettlement activities, if they are to adhere to Asian Development Bank (ADB) and World Bank standards. In this day and age, Projects must commit to International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standards (PS), the Equator Principles, World Bank Environmental, Health and Safety Guidelines, and other International standards as applicable. Developing a defensible LARAP ensures meeting these standards as it brings an international level of commitment to social sustainability, and ensures the Project can maintain its social license to operate.Land Census work conducted by the Consultant is crucial to the LARAP as the objective is to collect data on economic and/or physical displacements the project land acquisition will or has caused, so as to mitigate and compensate for possible project impacts on affected peoples lives and livelihoods. Therefore it is critical that the Land Census itself and resultant Report are prepared according to IFC PS5 on Land Acquisition and Involuntary Resettlement, to ensure accuracy. PS5 requires Projects to identify, avoid if possible and mitigate if not, the effects of land acquisition on the livelihoods of local people, and hold consultations with villagers.A land acquisition process is undertaken to support the development of the processing plant, camp utilities, and related infrastructure. O&G companies should already have acquired a particular size land area. Transparent public meetings, consultations, and negotiations should be undertaken between the affected villages and companies, in parallel to land surveys conducted by the National Land Board (BPN).There is always the case where projects land acquisition requires no physical displacement of local persons, however economic displacement is likely due to acquisition of land used for agricultural and/or other income-earning purposes. The Census is critical to establish a social, economic and cultural baseline by which project displacement is measured, and appropriate mitigation and restoration measures are formed. It is more important now than ever to conduct an accurate Land Census when viewed in the light of increasing influx and migration impacts.