Number 4 - ExxonMobil in the UK

Photo by Mike Morrow
Aboriginals
have a good neighbor
at Cold Lake
Imperial Oil works closely with Aboriginal communities near its historic
heavy-oil operation in Alberta. Imperial’s long-term outreach initiatives
result in economic benefit through training and employment programs,
and focused strategies on business development.
Few energy developments are as
technologically and fiscally daunting
as the Cold Lake heavy-oil
operation in northeastern Alberta.
The Cold Lake oil-sand deposit
contains billions of barrels of oil
in the form of tar-like bitumen. To
produce it, Imperial Oil Resources
operates the world’s largest thermal
in situ oil-recovery program,
in which the bitumen is heated
to the thickness of molasses and
pumped to the surface.
For more than 40 years,
Imperial, a majority-owned
ExxonMobil affiliate, has advanced
the development through disciplined
management and significant
investments in research and development.
However, another key to
success has been Imperial’s efforts
to earn and maintain positive relationships
with the 11 Aboriginal
communities surrounding the Cold
Lake operation.
“If we are to achieve our business
objectives, we must develop
and maintain healthy, respectful
relationships with our Aboriginal
neighbors,” says Randy Broiles,
senior vice president of Imperial
Oil Resources.
Sandy Martin, Cold Lake
operations manager, adds that
Imperial has an advantage in
Sandy Martin, Cold Lake operations manager, says that since 1998 Aboriginal
employment has grown to 10 percent of the total Cold Lake workforce.
community relations, partly
because it has operated in the
area for such a long time.
“We know who our neighbors
are,” he says. “We consult and
work extensively with the First
Nation and Métis communities
to listen to their ideas and
concerns, and establish employment,
training and business
development programs that create
mutual benefits for Imperial
and our Aboriginal neighbors.”
Breaking down barriers
In the 1990s, Fred Cardinal, a
Cold Lake production operator,
and other Aboriginal employees
formed a group to discuss ways
Imperial could improve relations
with Aboriginal communities and
break down employment barriers.
Out of those meetings came
an official name for the group –
the Imperial Native Network – as
well as a number of suggestions
that today are continuing to have
a positive impact on the company’s
community relations.
Imperial provides scholarships,
supports community projects
and Aboriginal-owned contracting
companies, and consults
regularly with Aboriginal elders
and community leaders.
Martin and other managers
also attend an annual gathering
on Aboriginal lands, where they
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