University of Vaasa - Vaasan yliopisto

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At the Turukhansk district level, five out of six of our interview respondents
emphasized the role of law in regulating the behaviour of the companies, particularly
their environmental performance (Krasnoyarsk Scientist 2008, Turukhansk
Administration Official 2008; Turukhansk Culture Worker 2008; Turukhansk
Environment Specialist 2008; Turukhansk News Editor 2008). Compliance with the
law was seen as part of CSR. On paper, Russia has rather advanced environmental
legislation. Enforcement, however, is a problem. While the Turukhansk district
administration is charged with policing Vankorneft’s activities, it is highly
challenging as Vankor oil field is extremely remote. District government inspectors
can afford to visit only once or twice a year. Turukhansk government is also prepared
to close ignore some violations in exchange for companies financing local social
programmes. Turukhansk administration is continuously short of funds, and social
problems are seen as more pressing than environmental issues in remote oil fields.
(Turukhansk Administration Official 2008; Turukhansk Environment Specialist
2008)
The Role of Russian civil Society
The Vankor oil field project and the EHES project attracted distinctly different
amounts of critical attention from the civil society organisations. Vankor is generally
perceived as a very ‘clean project’. None of our interviewees (Turukhansk
Administration Official 2008; Turukhansk Culture Worker 2008; Turukhansk News
Editor 2008; Turukhansk Environment Specialist 2008; SNC-Lavalin
Representatives 2008; Krasnoyarsk Scientist 2008) mention any problems. The
administration official (Turukhansk Administration Official 2008) and Krasnoyarsk
scientist (Krasnoyarsk Scientist 2008) in particular described the project as highly
environmentally responsible. We found no criticism of the project in the press.
However, Rosneft/Vankorneft do not appear to be responsible due to pressure from
the civil society. Whilst Rosneft lists local community organisations among its
stakeholders (Rosneft 2006, 2007), the details of the interaction with these social
groups are not explained.
EHES, on the other hand, attracts vast amounts of mainly negative attention. The
involved civil society in this case can be split into three categories: first, members of
communities and indigenous tribes that will be affected by the dam; second, more
formally organised groups and registered organisations representing affected
communities; and third, national and international environmental organisations.
(Table 4 summarises their actions.)
6 Where possible, the identities of the interview participants will be maximally anonymised. CSR and the EHES in
particular are sensitive topics within the Russian governmental context.