2008 Highlights and Activities

Overview

Finding, developing, and delivering reliable and affordable supplies of energy to support economic progress have long been the foundation of ExxonMobil's business. A key goal of our corporate citizenship strategy is to address the challenge of sustainability—balancing economic growth, social development, and environmental protection, so that future generations are not compromised by actions taken today. Below are examples of our biodiversity activities.

Global operations

ExxonMobil is the world's largest publicly traded petroleum and natural gas company. We operate facilities and market products around the world and explore for oil and natural gas on six continents. Below are a few highlights and examples of our global operations.

Canada
Commenced exploration drilling and evaluation of a shale gas play in the Horn River Basin in northeastern British Columbia.

United States
Maintain a significant position in all major producing regions, including the Gulf of Mexico, the mid-continent, onshore and offshore California, and Alaska.

Brazil
Commenced drilling operations in offshore Block BM-S-22 in the Santos Basin.

Norway
Operating or participating in more than 24 fields, ExxonMobil provides 10 percent of total Norwegian oil and gas production.

Libya
Operator of three deepwater exploration blocks, with first drilling expected to commence in 2009.

West Africa
ExxonMobil affiliates in Angola, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, and Nigeria are among the largest oil producers in those countries.

Qatar
Working with Qatar Petroleum to develop the world's largest non-associated natural gas field, to develop more than 25 billion oil-equivalent barrels (gross).

China
ExxonMobil, along with our partners, is progressing an expansion project that will triple our refining capacity in the country and will also include a world-scale integrated chemical plant.

Malaysia
Natural gas production began from the offshore Jerneh B platform in 2008, and is expected to bring total production from the field to 500 million cubic feet of gas per day (gross).

Singapore
Own and operate a 605-thousand-barrel-per-day integrated refining and chemical complex, our largest in the world.

Indonesia
Development of the Banyu Urip field in the Cepu Block continues and is expected to produce 165 thousand barrels per day (gross).

Russia
Potential recoverable resources from the Sakhalin-1 Project area are estimated at 2.3 billion barrels of oil and 17.1 trillion cubic feet of gas (gross).

Australia
Gippsland operations have yielded almost two-thirds of Australia's cumulative oil production and almost 30 percent of Australia's gas production.

Biodiversity

ExxonMobil believes that biodiversity conservation can be balanced with economic development through careful management of environmental impacts. Our sites incorporate biodiversity protection through their efforts to limit impacts in sensitive areas.

Irving, Texas, USA
Wildlife Habitat Council certified site
While much of the area surrounding ExxonMobil's Irving, Texas Headquarters has been rapidly developed, nearly 90 percent of the 99 hectares occupied by ExxonMobil facilities have remained available for habitat enhancements. The site received its first Wildlife Habitat Council certification in 2003 and was recertified in 2008. On-site habitat enhancement projects include an eastern bluebird nest box program, stream monitoring of the Hackberry Creek, and routine garbage clean-up events.

Billings, Montana, USA
Wildlife Habitat Council certified site
The Billings, Montana Refinery borders the Yellowstone River, Cherry Island, and other large natural areas. For years, employees at the refinery have maintained and monitored osprey nesting platforms and kestrel nest boxes. The refinery's wildlife habitat team engages local Boy Scout troops and high school classes for research projects and educational instruction. The wildlife team also created a Wildlife Area Usage Policy to communicate the overall scope of the program to visitors and refinery employees, and to assure their safety as well as that of the wildlife. The site has been Wildlife Habitat Council certified since 2002 and was recertified in 2008.

Kemmerer, Wyoming, USA
Wildlife Habitat Council certified site
In 1998, ExxonMobil, along with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD), associated contractors, and suppliers developed a project known as the Sawmill Creek Trout Pond to benefit Colorado River cutthroat trout. The goal of the pond was to provide a habitat for natural spawning, which could later be used by the WGFD to provide supplemental trout to other streams. Currently, ExxonMobil, with technical assistance from the WGFD, is undertaking further enhancement of the Sawmill Creek Trout Pond to meet changes in water sources. ExxonMobil environmental personnel continue to monitor the overall pond and area conditions weekly. The site has been Wildlife Habitat Council certified since 1999 and was recertified in 2008.

Houston, Texas, USA
Wildlife Habitat Council certified site
ExxonMobil restored the 5 hectare St. Mary's Island as a dedicated bird habitat region, creating nesting habitat for black skimmers and other threatened migratory shorebirds and uplands birds. The site provides foraging habitat for upland and wading birds, marine edge habitat for estuarine game fish, and resting areas for migrating species, such as the monarch butterfly. A wildlife team of five core members is responsible for managing, monitoring, submitting habitat quality reports, controlling invasive plant species, and upgrading habitats. The site has been certified since 2003 by the Wildlife Habitat Council.

Annandale, New Jersey, USA
Wildlife Habitat Council certified site
The Clinton Research Facility was certified by the Wildlife Habitat Council as a "Corporate Lands for Learning Site" in 2006, and was recertified in 2008. This designation recognizes ExxonMobil's commitment to use site resources for the environmental education of the local community. Although ExxonMobil has five sites certified by WHC as "Wildlife at Work" sites, the Clinton site is the first to achieve this certification. As part of this program, ExxonMobil scientists have actively worked with middle school students to demonstrate how various science disciplines can be applied to understand and protect our environment. These efforts include classroom presentations and experiments as well as field trips to observe and learn about wildlife first-hand. Students have also seen how microorganisms help purify water as part of a tour of the on-site wastewater treatment plant.

Canada
ExxonMobil—in partnership with the Nature Conservancy of Canada, local government, and the community—is protecting a critical mass of sensitive habitat on Nova Scotia's Aspotogan Peninsula. Our contribution is helping to protect over 336 hectares at Deep Cove, an ecologically important area for both its landscape and the presence of rare lichens.

Scotland
Over the last two years, in partnership with the Fife Air Cadets Conservation Group, we have planted 3000 trees and 1000 wildflowers on the site of the Fife Ethylene Plant in Scotland. In 2008, the Chairman of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency planted the 2,500th tree. Many of the plants were initially sown and grown by the children from seed. Ultimately, we plan to plant 5000 trees and 2000 wildflowers on the site.

Norway
ExxonMobil's Slagen refinery in Oslofjord is located within an area protected for its high ecological and recreational value. Our biological characterization studies of the forested area have shown that areas within the refinery fence line—which have seen only restricted human entry since the refinery start-up in 1960—have greater ecological value than areas outside the fence line, harboring more than 20 endangered plant and animal species. These studies have been so successful that they will be continued in 2009. The results of these studies will be shared and used to achieve sustainable mixed use of the overall protected area.

France
Working with Le Renard, a nonprofit environmental organization in southern France, ExxonMobil helped to restore wildlife biodiversity on 150 hectares of unused fields. The surrounding areas near one of ExxonMobil's refineries had seen significant decreases in local wildlife due to invasive plants. By working with local authorities and nonprofit organizations to eliminate the invasive plants, wildlife habitat has been enhanced and fauna and flora biodiversity has been restored.

Nigeria
ExxonMobil helped sponsor a research project on the negative effects of desert encroachment and dry land degradation, including poverty, hunger, and loss of biodiversity and natural resources in northern Nigeria and other countries bordering the Sahara Desert. The project plans to plant nearly 1 million trees to serve as a buffer to prevent further desert encroachment along a 16,000-kilometer stretch across 20 countries from Western Africa to Europe.

Qatar
At our Qatargas II Project, pipelines running from offshore fields to shore must cross hard coral habitat that extends along the coastline. To mitigate overall impacts on corals in the region, over 4500 individual coral heads were relocated out of proposed pipeline corridors into recovering coral habitat, where they will contribute to habitat recovery. Monitoring performed in 2007 and 2008 indicated that over 99 percent of the relocated coral are surviving and healthy.

Singapore
To help develop public awareness and foster conservation of the rich flora and fauna in Singapore, ExxonMobil joined the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research to create educational materials. The most recent guidebook, Private Lives—An Exposé of Singapore's Mangroves, was published in 2008. To date, the various books have sold over 5000 copies.

Russia
The Sakhalin-1 Project has established itself as a champion for environmental protection. The Project has given priority to protecting the native lands and livelihoods of indigenous reindeer herders who live on northern Sakhalin Island. The Odoptu project is hiring four reindeer herders to act as environmental monitors during construction of the pipeline. The herders will assist the project to avoid herd crossings and other sensitive habitats.

Papua New Guinea
ExxonMobil established several field camps to characterize environmental biodiversity aspects of remote areas of Papua New Guinea that had never been characterized before. As expected, scientists discovered a number of new species. This detailed study will be used to determine necessary mitigations to preserve the nearly undisturbed area surrounding facilities during construction and operations.

New Zealand
ExxonMobil conducted a voluntary program to observe location, movement, and abundance of marine mammals and birds during exploration activities in the Great South Basin. The results, released to the government and the iwi people (the indigenous Maori population), provided insight into marine mammals and birds in the region, including the traditionally important mutton bird.

Economic development

ExxonMobil seeks to create long-term economic and social benefits from our projects and presence. We employ a variety of economic support and incentive programs, including workforce development, supplier development, and strategic community investments. Our contributions to economic development allow us to reduce barriers to development in the communities where we operate. Below are a few examples of our economic development activities.

United States
Preparing math and science teachers through UTeach
Originated at the University of Texas at Austin, UTeach recruits, prepares, and retains qualified science, math, and computer science teachers. Each year, the program provides full teaching certification to over 70 undergraduate majors in these fields. UTeach is currently being implemented at 13 universities across the United States, and enrollment is expected to total 5600 students over the next five years. About 70 percent of UTeach graduates are still teaching five or more years after entering the field, compared with less than 50 percent nationally.

Hurricane relief
With an increasing number of people living in coastal areas and critical infrastructure located along the Gulf Coast of the United States, the risks of casualties, property damage, and financial hardship are severe when hurricanes make landfall. In the event of an extreme weather event, our most important priority is to protect the safety and health of our workforce, their families, and our communities, and to secure our operations to reduce potential impacts to the environment.

In 2008, we donated $6.5 million for disaster relief assistance to U.S. communities along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico in the aftermath of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

Brazil
Fostering self-awareness, self-esteem, and professional development
Esso, along with CIEE (School-Business Integration Center) and CDI (Committee for the Democratization of Information Technology), formed Programa Mais to foster the personal, professional, and cultural development of low-income, Afro-Brazilian public school students between the ages of 16 and 24.The program has trained 138 students in the art of public speaking, computer skills, entering the labor market, and preparing for college entrance exams. The program also offers cultural workshops that include visits to universities, museums, theaters, and businesses. Visits to companies like Esso introduce students to the business world and the professional paths taken by executives. Ultimately, we plan to include Programa Mais participants in our trainee program and hire them as employees.

France
Supporting regional science competitions
ExxonMobil has supported Les Olympiades de la Physique (Physics Olympics) over the last three years and Les Olympiades de la Chimie (Chemistry Olympics) for the last 20 years. The Olympics transform high-school students into researchers who must defend the scientific value of their work in front of a panel of professionals. Each year, over 2500 students participate in about 27 regional competitions for the Chemistry Olympics and about 60 finalist teams participate in the national competition for the Physics Olympics.

Nigeria
Workforce nationalization
To date, ExxonMobil affiliates in Nigeria have hired nearly 500 process, mechanical, instrumentation, and electrical graduates from our Technical Training Center in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Of the graduates employed, half are from the local community and the other half are from other Nigerian states. With a 95-percent graduation rate, the Center's apprentice program provides students with the training needed to be internationally competitive. In 2008, some of those who graduated from the Center supported our newest project, East Area Natural Gas Liquids II.

NetsforLife
Since the inception of the Africa Health Initiative in 2000, we have committed over $50 million to support efforts to fight malaria through disease prevention, control, and treatment programs. In 2008, we awarded $14 million in grants to support projects such as NetsforLife. Building on the success of NetsforLife in Angola, ExxonMobil supported the program's expansion to fight malaria in Nigeria, in 2008. The distribution of long-lasting, insecticide-treated bed nets has provided assistance to nearly 550,000 people in Angolan and Nigerian communities with a high prevalence of reported malaria cases. Research shows that when three-quarters of the people in a community use the nets, the incidence of malaria infection decreases, along with a 90-percent reduction in the actual mosquito population. Through 2008, NetsforLife has distributed 1 million bed nets in 15 African nations and estimates that these bed nets have saved the lives of about 27,000 children.

Transparency initiatives
Results of the audit of oil and gas activities from 1999 to 2004 are posted on the Nigeria EITI Web site. ExxonMobil provided advice and support for the implementation of Nigeria's version of EITI, which includes a three-part audit of financials, management processes, and physical volumes.

Chad
Transparency initiative
Since its inception, our project has been governed by conventions and contracts that promote transparency. Payments to the Chadian government have now exceeded $4.3 billion. This information is posted on the Esso Chad and World Bank Web sites. In 2008, Esso Chad and TRACE International sponsored an anti-corruption conference.

Chad-Cameroon Pipeline: Investing in local goods and services
Five years after oil was first produced from the Doba Basin in southern Chad, our project continues to contribute to the economic growth and development of the country and its residents. Because Chad is a landlocked country, an underground pipeline carries crude oil from Chad to a marine shipping terminal in Cameroon. This benefits not only Chad, but also the people of Cameroon. Since development began in 2000, we have spent $1.8 billion on goods and services from approximately 2200 Chadian and Cameroonian businesses. In 2008, project spending on local goods and services totaled nearly $160 million, further contributing to a local supply chain that did not exist before the project. We also committed to hiring locally. Currently, 9 out of 10 employees are Chadians and Cameroonians, with the majority working in skilled, semi-skilled, or supervisory positions. Some employees have also successfully transitioned from worker to entrepreneur. For example, one former employee founded a small environmental consulting firm in 2005, after having worked with one of our construction contractors for five years. The firm specializes in environmental impact studies and often performs baseline studies for ExxonMobil as well as a project on behalf of the World Bank.

Our additional contributions to the region are far-reaching and include:

• Extensive and comprehensive public consultation with some 300,000 Chadians and Cameroonians about the project's development plans and operations;
• Project contributions of more than $9 million to an array of community, educational, and environmental initiatives in Chad and Cameroon; and,
• The renovation of three clinics in the oilfield development area to significantly improve health services to surrounding villages.

Cameroon
Transparency initiatives
The government has published two reports, and held a meeting in 2008 to evaluate the EITI process and consider EITI validation criteria. An official Cameroonian EITI Website is planned to launch in early 2009.

StopAIDS
Now in its fifth year, our comprehensive workplace HIV/AIDS program, StopAIDS, combines risk mitigation education with access to community-based care and treatment to keep healthy workers disease-free and educate HIV-positive workers on how to live safely with the illness. ExxonMobil does not test for HIV and HIV status is not a factor in determining an employee's ability to work.

In 2008, ExxonMobil affiliates in Cameroon assisted over 1200 women and parents with AIDS in the Nyon District hospital, through direct employee contributions and matched funds from the Cameroon Oil Transportation Company.

Chad-Cameroon Pipeline: Investing in local goods and services
Five years after oil was first produced from the Doba Basin in southern Chad, our project continues to contribute to the economic growth and development of the country and its residents. Because Chad is a landlocked country, an underground pipeline carries crude oil from Chad to a marine shipping terminal in Cameroon. This benefits not only Chad, but also the people of Cameroon. Since development began in 2000, we have spent $1.8 billion on goods and services from approximately 2200 Chadian and Cameroonian businesses. In 2008, project spending on local goods and services totaled nearly $160 million, further contributing to a local supply chain that did not exist before the project. We also committed to hiring locally. Currently, 9 out of 10 employees are Chadians and Cameroonians, with the majority working in skilled, semi-skilled, or supervisory positions. Some employees have also successfully transitioned from worker to entrepreneur. For example, one former employee founded a small environmental consulting firm in 2005, after having worked with one of our construction contractors for five years. The firm specializes in environmental impact studies and often performs baseline studies for ExxonMobil as well as a project on behalf of the World Bank.

Our additional contributions to the region are far-reaching and include:

• Extensive and comprehensive public consultation with some 300,000 Chadians and Cameroonians about the project's development plans and operations;
• Project contributions of more than $9 million to an array of community, educational, and environmental initiatives in Chad and Cameroon; and,
• The renovation of three clinics in the oilfield development area to significantly improve health services to surrounding villages.

Equatorial Guinea
Transparency initiatives
ExxonMobil provided significant support to assist the government in achieving its designation by the EITI Board as a Candidate Country. We drafted a Memorandum of Understanding for engagement by all participating stakeholders, reporting templates and guidelines, and a draft work plan for EITI implementation. ExxonMobil serves on a Steering Committee to help Equatorial Guinea meet its EITI validation deadline of March 2010.

Angola
Managing external affairs
Esso Exploration Angola Limited (Block 15) has been applying the principles of Best Practices in External Affairs to manage all aspects of our external affairs, including national content development, government and media relations, community relations, and workforce involvement. This has helped us optimize the impact and value of our outreach programs by better managing our relationships with Angolan stakeholders through improved understanding of their viewpoints and concerns.

The Kizomba A, B, and C development projects spent $3.5 billion on Angolan employee salaries and purchases from Angolan vendors and suppliers. In 2008, Esso's Block 15 maintained its high safety record and was operational 99 percent of the time—an industry leading accomplishment.

We are committed to turning over line and staff jobs to qualified Angolans as soon as they have developed the skills to ensure safe and efficient business operations. In 2008, 11 Angolans were on expatriate assignments, 88 participated in technical skill development courses overseas, and 40 were in supervisory and management positions. Over one-third of Esso Angola’s national employees were promoted to higher levels within the company during the year.

From 2005 to 2008, Esso Angola increased local spending from 16 to 30 percent. In 2008, total spending to 140 local suppliers exceeded $900 million. We continue working with Angolan suppliers to ensure that they can meet our needs for quality, safety, and schedule. In 2008, a supplier forum and training on ExxonMobil's e-bidding system enhanced the competitive ability of over 300 Angolan suppliers. In partnership with CAE (an organization for business support), Esso Angola conducted training sessions for more than 1300 participants from 350 micro-, small-, and medium-size businesses.

Esso Angola provided over $12 million in 2008 to help develop skills and capacity in public health and education. We conducted extensive consultations with a diverse range of stakeholders to ensure that our community investments help the government of Angola to make progress toward their national priority goals and the United Nations Millennium Development Goals in these areas.

In 2008, Esso Angola employees and families volunteered over 1100 hours to renovate orphanages, churches, public health facilities, community centers, and remote schools.

StopAIDS
Now in its fifth year, our comprehensive workplace HIV/AIDS program, StopAIDS, combines risk mitigation education with access to community-based care and treatment to keep healthy workers disease-free and educate HIV-positive workers on how to live safely with the illness. ExxonMobil does not test for HIV and HIV status is not a factor in determining an employee's ability to work.

In 2008, ExxonMobil affiliates in Angola conducted 16 workplace training sessions; three community training sessions; and nine employee events, such as HIV/AIDS Family Day.

Africa
Vital Voices
Many women face legal, regulatory, and practical obstacles to economic success including access to credit and registering property. In 2008, the ExxonMobil Foundation supported a program that helped legal advocates of African women and entrepreneurs develop 30 new advocacy projects directly impacting over 3000 women in Africa while raising awareness of the inequities and the legal barriers they face. Together with the World Bank, the Vital Voices/ExxonMobil Leveling the Playing Field for Women's Economic and Social Progress Program created a co-branded publication featuring the success stories of female African entrepreneurs who were able to overcome these barriers and develop businesses.

Through the Vital Voices/ExxonMobil African Women Artisans Export Development Program, we trained 25 African women artisans from 12 countries on business essentials and how to access international distribution channels for their products. The participants developed 75 new product items for the Vital Voices Collection and items have been exhibited at major trade shows and events. Through follow-up activities, the original 25 participants have trained 3700 more artisans in their countries.

Egypt
International education initiatives
In Egypt, ExxonMobil is actively involved in education, child welfare, and entrepreneur training. Through a three-year, $1 million grant to Save the Children's Ishraq Program, 1000 girls between the ages of 12 and 17 will be given a second chance at education. The program also offers social sessions to educate families about the importance of encouraging their daughters, sisters, and wives to continue their education.

Kuwait
Supporting regional science competitions
Kuwait's first ever national science fair is being sponsored by ExxonMobil, Kuwait Energy Company, Kuwait Motor Sports Club, and the Scientific Center. To generate student interest in math and science, the best 100 entries from over 150 high schools were invited to participate in the final competition in March 2009.

Qatar
Supporting regional science competitions
ExxonMobil contributed to the first national GasNa competition organized by Qatar University's Gas Processing Center. Based on age group, students compete in the categories of poster, essay, or scientific experiment. In 2008, 711 students, representing 111 schools, participated in the competition. Competitions such as this motivate students to enter the engineering field, boost the scientific capacity of the Qatari workforce, and develop the country's natural resource base.

Azerbaijan
Transparency initiative
In 2008, the government of Azerbaijan published its ninth report on its oil and gas revenues. ExxonMobil assisted the State Oil Fund to develop the reporting templates, guidelines, and the Memorandum of Understanding signed by stakeholders. Azerbaijan initiated an EITI validation process in 2008 and is the first country, among the 26 countries achieving EITI Candidate Country status, to do so.

Kazakhstan
Supporting regional science competitions
ExxonMobil has supported the Zhautykov National Specialized Physics and Math High School in Kazakhstan since 2004. By updating the school's computers and sponsoring English classes, we seek to improve the students' ability to compete for placement in the best universities in the world. In 2008, we became one of three official sponsors of the school's International Physics and Math Olympiad, which brings together over 200 participants from 16 countries. The Minister of Education officially recognized ExxonMobil's continuous support of educational opportunities for Kazakh students.

Transparency initiatives
ExxonMobil participates in the National Stakeholders Council, which published its first report on oil and gas revenues in Kazakhstan in 2008, with a second report due out in 2009. During 2008, we presented on behalf of the industry at Kazakhstan's first national EITI conference. We have also been invited to be part of the Kazakh delegation to international conferences, including the 2009 Global EITI Conference.

Thailand
Responding to community expectations
As part of any major new project, we conduct Environmental, Socioeconomic, and Health Impact Assessments (ESHIAs) to address possible environmental, socioeconomic, and health concerns. In Thailand, we coordinated site visits with the leaders of 22 communities within a 5-kilometer radius of our project to understand their concerns. We held additional sessions with the 10 communities closest to the project. Feedback indicated that the communities have two basic expectations: 1) to be informed about environmental planning, monitoring results, project activities, and progress and 2) to improve their economic circumstances through skills development. We are addressing these issues through an integrated external affairs plan for 2009, which includes a quarterly newsletter for local communities, annual site visits, opinion surveys, and participation in community activities. Through our Educating Women and Girls Initiative, we are exploring options to develop skills training centers as well as other community investment projects as part of our national content development strategy. Our engagement efforts have enhanced the relationship between project managers and the community.

Malaysia
International education initiatives
Geographical remoteness, absenteeism, and high drop out rates are some of the educational challenges facing the children of the Orang Asli ("original peoples") community. ExxonMobil worked with UNICEF Malaysia to publish a book based on Orang Asli folklore to teach children reading and writing skills. Besides preserving their cultural heritage, the use of traditional stories is aimed at igniting the children's interest in learning and attending school. The book will be published in early 2009 and will benefit 94 Orang Asli schools, reaching about 13,000 students. Teachers at Orang Asli schools will be provided with training to help make teaching and learning fun for the children.

Indonesia
StopAIDS
Now in its fifth year, our comprehensive workplace HIV/AIDS program, StopAIDS, combines risk mitigation education with access to community-based care and treatment to keep healthy workers disease-free and educate HIV-positive workers on how to live safely with the illness. ExxonMobil does not test for HIV and HIV status is not a factor in determining an employee's ability to work.

In 2008, ExxonMobil affiliates in Indonesia established a committee to conduct a Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Survey; blood-borne disease awareness sessions; and a workplace gap assessment within ExxonMobil facilities in Aceh, Jakarta, and Cepu.

Russia
Community development on Sakhalin Island
ExxonMobil is committed to supporting the communities of Sakhalin Island and Khabarovsk Krai by investing in community infrastructure projects such as hospitals, roads, bridges, airports, and seaport facilities; power, water, and sanitation upgrades; and supporting education, health care, and cultural projects in the region.

Within two years of agreeing to assist with the update of the Okha Municipal District regional healthcare system, Exxon Neftegas Limited (ENL) provided the Okha Regional Medical Center with modern emergency medical care equipment, ranging from surgical tools to diagnostic equipment. Because no illness can be treated by equipment alone, ENL also arranged for healthcare professionals to be trained on how to utilize the equipment. For example, in 2008, a leading Russian surgeon conducted 14 demonstration operations and trained local physicians on a new endoscopic unit for video diagnostics and therapy.

New Zealand
Engaging with the iwi people
In 2008, ExxonMobil engaged with indigenous landowners during our exploration activities in the Great South Basin, offshore New Zealand. The purpose of our engagement was to provide the iwi people—the indigenous Maori population—an opportunity to ask questions and to give ourselves an opportunity to learn about their customs and traditions so that we could incorporate their needs into our business processes.

ExxonMobil identified traditional land owners from competing iwi groups, each with potential claims to land in the area. We then created a stakeholder plan, which included key local and federal government officials and representatives from the Ngai Tahu iwi, an umbrella organization representing iwi interests.

Although ownership of the coastal waters is not assigned to the indigenous population, the southern waters off New Zealand are an important resource for the Maori people. The area is an important feeding ground for the mutton bird, a traditional food source and a prominent symbol throughout Maori culture and history. The iwi have closely monitored the mutton bird population for more than 700 years, to ensure that it will continue to sustain each next generation.

ExxonMobil personnel visited Southern New Zealand to listen to iwi concerns about potential impacts of seismic activity on the mutton bird. ExxonMobil undertook voluntary monitoring of mutton birds from the seismic vessel and gathered detailed observations of the numbers and types of birds feeding in the seismic path. Maps showing the location of mutton bird movements at sea were provided to the iwi at the completion of seismic activity.

ExxonMobil was the first oil and gas company to consult with the Ngai Tahu iwi about our activities in the Great South Basin. This effort was well-received locally, and was helpful to all concerned.