May 2006

Vijay Kumar Balakrishnan,
Managing Director, Premier LP Gas Ltd., Bangladesh

A process to provide structure

In September 2005, you introduced SRM+ at your LPG terminal in Chittagong, which includes an LPG bottling plant and a 1.8-kilometer pipeline from the coast to the plant. How did it help?

« Our facility is located near the fishing village of Kumira, and relations have sometimes been strained, for example during pipeline construction. We’d already worked to improve dialogue, for example by teaming up with neighbors to ensure the security of equipment.

But we needed a more objective process that would provide more structure. Students in the region used SRM+ to conduct a survey, which allowed us to prepare a list of expectations concerning our facility and a realistic action plan in line with our resources. People have a lot of high expectations, but we can’t do everything at once.

We identified four priority expectations: information on product and site safety and firefighting, our contribution to local economic development, support for education through scholarships and internships, and improved health care and access to drinking water.

Using this as our foundation, we developed an action plan that will be implemented in 2006. To enhance dialogue and information, particularly about safety, we’ll be holding site tours and offering safety training programs with the fire department. In the longer term, we hope to contribute more actively to local economic development through skills transfer programs. And we’re planning to introduce a scholarship and internship program ».