Stakeholder participation in development of shale gas and nuclear energy projects in Poland

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1 Stakeholder participation in development of shale gas and nuclear energy projects in Poland Aleksandra Lis, PhD Adam Mickiewicz University, Poland Piotr Stankiewicz, PhD Nicholas Copernicus University, Poland

2 Polish Nuclear Power Pogramme Started 2009 November 2011: indication of three potential locations for the first Polish nuclear power plant April 2012: beginning of government s information campaign since 2011: parallel campaing led by the investor (PGE) 2015: selection of the final NPP s location place

3 Potential locations

4 Shale gas exploration About 100 licenses issued since 2007 by the Polish government for exploration of shale gas ca. 20 Polish and foreign gas and oil companies involved 51 drills Local conflicts (most intensive in Żurawłów with Chevron) Regional communication campaigns ( Porozmawiajmy o łupkach public hearings organized by the Ministry of Environment in Gdańsk and in Lublin in October 2013)

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7 Technology assessment approach Two paradigms: conventional one, exclusive, expert-based, top-down approach ( deficit model ), focused mainly on technological risks. Particpatory Technology Assessment, inclusive, open for local knowledge, norms and values of various stakeholders. Since the 80 s there is a visible shift from conventional, expert-based TA towards participatory approach

8 Our non-sentimental approach We want to propose an approach to account for interests in opening decision-making to the public processes on energy technology Field of practice (P. Bourdieu) Public participation creates spaces within which various interests can be juxtaposed, translated into a common interest, included, excluded Focus on experts and their role in translating interests (B. Latour) which interests are translated? Who (else) translates and how? Boundary work (T. Gieryn) what kind of interests are excluded? What kind of boundaries are created?

9 Focus on experts Research questions: 1. Does the role and do practices of experts change depending on the field which is paternal to the organization of interactions with the public? (business, state, civil society) 2. Does the newly negotiated order differ depending on the field which is paternal to the organization of interactions with the public? (business, state, civil society) 3. Do these new orders facilitate public participation or not?

10 Nuclear energy experts in Poland A group of experts educated mainly in the USSR developed around the 1980s nuclear project which failed Most of them work in the Polish nuclear research centre in Świerk, others work abroad Today, there is a handful of nuclear energy veterans from the 80 s, today in the preretirement age, and literally no younger generation of engineers and specialists

11 Shale gas experts in Poland Shale gas extraction is a new topic However, extraction of natural gas has a long tradition in Poland (extraction of oil and gas started in Poland in the second half of the 19th century thanks to activities of Ignacy Łukasiewicz, who invented the kerosene lamp) and the gas sector is rather well developed Experts taking part in the shale gas debate are mostly geologists and hydro-geologists from the gas and coal mining sector, with experience in natural gas extraction

12 Information campaign on nuclear power in Poland Run by a consortium of private PR companies, chosen in a tender organized by the Ministry of Economy cost: 18 mln PLN (ca. 4,5 mln EURO) start: April 2012 a textbook case of an expert-based approach/deficit model of communication similar campaign led by the investor in local communities

13 The Ministry officials about the information campaign The campaign will use some PR tools, BTL campaign, media and survey research. It has four basic functions: informative, educational, consultational and persuasive We will try to reach those who know the least because poor knowledge translates into a negative attitude to nuclear energy We do not intend to give decision-making powers to local communities We will use experts to prepare information materials (Interview, Warsaw, 30 September 2011)

14 Information campaign

15 Experts during the public meetings organized by companies Normalization of risks: The Fukushima accident could be used for promotion of nuclear energy. The fact that under such circumstances (tornado, earthquake) and with an old nuclear technology nobody died is the best argument for development of nuclear energy. (Interview with a university geologist conducted in April 2013) In case of shale gas, the absolute safety option is based mainly on the experience with drilling in natural gas exploration and extraction.

16 Experts during meetings organized by companies The opposition and protests of local communities are interpreted according to the NIMBY and the deficit model perspective: as irrational, blind resistance against everything what is new and unknown. Instead debating with them the complicated details of energy investments, they should be first educated and persuaded by experts to the appropriateness of the decision.

17 Regional Forum on Dialogue and Cooperartion Energy and Self-Government in the Pomerania province Created by the regional authorities of Pomerania in 2011 Goal: to organize and conduct dialogue on energy controversies in Pomerania with various stakeholders Involvement of representatives of all levels authorities (commune, district, region and state), as well as of private sector and NGO s Open meetings, seminars and workshops on various kinds of energy investments in the region A clear promotion of dialogue, of participatory approaches The initiative faded away when one of the main organizers left and got involved into organizing dialogue around shale gas projects

18 Expert from the National Atomic Energy Agency right after the Forum meeting We should first discuss with people and only then make decisions. Instead of saying communicate something TO the people we should by saying consult WITH the people People should be treated like partners (Interview, April 2011 )

19 Together about shale gas An independent dialogue and information campaign in North Poland financed by the National Environmental Protection Fund , organized by an NGO in Gdańsk in cooperation with regional authorities 7 Local Dialogue Committees consisting of stakeholder representatives (license holder, NGOs, public officials, local inhabitants) Support for local authorities to organise and conducts dialogue activities on local controversies An ongoing one-year dialogue proces leading to a social contract

20 Some conclusions Experts practices and their perception of their role change depending on the field which is paternal to the organization of the interactions with the public (State, business, NGOs) Depending on the field, roles and relations between participants are differently defined However, stability of these new relations (new institutional orders and boundaries) depends on the stability of the field itself the problem of funding, durability of organizations, especially important for NGOs

21 Thank you for your attention