BP - Tangguh

DTE raises critical questions about the giant Tangguh natural gas and LNG project, operated by BP in Bintuni Bay, West Papua.

Now in the production phase, this multi-billion dollar project has brought rapid and massive change to local communities whose customary lands have been used to site the project.

DTE has questioned BP about human rights, social and environmental impacts and the wider political context and reports extensively about Tangguh.

Clearing land for the Tangguh project construction

DTE's Andrew Hickman was interviewed by New Zealand radio programme, "Earthwise" of Plains FM 96.9 Radio, about BP and local communities in Bintuni Bay, West Papua - site of the massive Tangguh LNG gas project.

Open the MPR attachment, below, to listen to the programme, broadcast on February 10th, 2014.

DTE 95, March 2013

Communities have criticised the lack of transparency and unfulfilled promises at the giant Tangguh gas installation operated by UK-based energy multinational BP in Papua Barat.

New report: Tangguh, BP and International Standards. An analysis of the commitments made by BP in relation to BP Tangguh in West Papua and their social and environmental responsibilities.

April, 2011

The British energy company BP is perhaps currently best known for last year’s fatal Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. The company is also big news in Indonesia, where it is one of Indonesia’s biggest investors.

April 2011

BP Tangguh, Bintuni Bay and its Papuan context

Introducing our new report: 'Tangguh, BP and International Standards.

Down to Earth No. 76-77 May 2008

Another year, another set of record profits from West Papua's mineral resources.

The Westminster conference centre just alongside the UK's Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey seem a long way away from the frontier town of Timika or, for that matter, the prawn fisherfolk of Bintuni Bay in West Papua. However, each year this is the scene of the Annual General Meeting of Rio Tinto PLC, a 40% joint venture stakeholder in the expanded Grasberg mine in the highlands of West Papua.

Down to Earth No. 73, May 2007


It has been two years since Down to Earth's last detailed report on BP's huge Tangguh gas project in Bintuni Bay, West Papua. Surprisingly little has changed.


From BP's point of view much has changed at Tangguh - the project is now well into its construction phase (70% complete as of March 2007) and is due to go 'onstream' in 2008. However, the same issues, the same concerns, the same doubts keep surfacing. How can this mega-project possibly fit into the realities of West Papuan life?

Down to Earth No 65  May 2005

In February 2004, DTE took a detailed look at BP's controversial gas project in Bintuni Bay, West Papua. One year on, we ask how far concerns over human rights, security and local people's rights have been addressed.

The Tangguh gas extraction and liquid natural gas (LNG) installation in the Bird's Head region of West Papua got the final go-ahead from BP on March 7th. As a result, the area will experience massive social, environmental and economic changes.