Peru LNG (Hunt Oil)
CLS was retained by Hunt Oil, the majority shareholder of the Peru LNG project, the largest foreign investment project in Peru’s history, to create and implement a multi-faceted communications campaign in order to obtain financial support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im). Peru LNG sought to build a liquefied natural gas facility in Peru to transport natural gas from the interior of the country to the west coast of North America.
The project faced numerous public relations challenges due to a series of environmental concerns linked to other projects in the region, including the upstream component that feeds natural gas to the Peru LNG plant along the coast. In an effort to educate audiences on the significant differences between the two projects, and build Peru LNG’s image, CLS implemented a targeted outreach campaign to the media, opinion-makers and government officials at the U.S. Congress, Administration, Ex-Im, the IFC and IDB. In addition, CLS conducted comprehensive public opinion and survey research in Peru to assess the image of the project among local populations that live along the pathway of the pipeline. This research not only informed the project sponsors of their public perception in Peru, but also proved invaluable for decision makers in Washington to see the value of the project on the local population.
CLS helped coordinate a number of key briefings with U.S. government officials at a multitude of agencies, key Congressional committees and other stakeholders, helping build a base of support for the project and prepare for a pending vote at the various international financial institutions. The goal of the briefings was to inoculate against attacks from certain non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and educate policymakers on the numerous economic, social and national security benefits the project would afford for both the United States and its ally in the region. After dozens of in-person meetings with Hunt executives and continuous outreach to interested parties in the government and the NGO community, with an important “yes” vote from the United States government, all three financial institutions approved loans for the project.
The Peru LNG project is underway and the first LNG exports are slated for delivery by 2010. CLS continues providing strategic counsel on communications concerning the project.
