Oil development in the North - concerted dialogue or a dialogue for concern? : a study of CSR and consultations as dialogues between an oil company, the state, municipalities and the Sami Parliament

Abstract

The thesis is a case study about the Goliat oil development off the coast of Finnmark, in the North of Norway. The Arctic is opening up for oil and gas development, however, demands from the public and from international actors that the oil companies operate in a sustainable and responsible manner have led the oil companies to use principles of corporate social responsibility in their operations. These CSR initiatives opens up for the local actors to have influence over the development process. In this case study, the oil company, Eni Norge has started dialogues with the local municipalities and the Sami Parliament. The thesis investigates and compares these dialogues to find differences in how these local actors related to the development process. For the Sami Parliament—which through ILO Convention 169 and their status as an indigenous peoples have a right to be consulted in oil and gas development by the Norwegian State—the dialogue with Eni Norge opens another possibility to influence the process. The new possibilities for dialogue may become another alternative for influencing the development process or a complimentary processes to the consultations the Sami Parliament have with the state.