External Associations: Initiatives and Advocacy
We recognize the need to ensure that our advocacy efforts reflect our business strategy, particularly with respect to climate change and the energy transition.
We engage directly with government representatives when we believe we can make a difference in creating policy and regulation decisions to support the participation of oil and natural gas companies in the energy transition, so that we can be part of the solution.
Vermilion supports the goals of the Paris agreement and governments’ actions to develop and implement related climate change policy and regulation, while recognizing the critical role that oil and natural gas will play during the energy transition to ensure accessible and affordable energy supplies.
Our position is that while oil and gas resources are still needed during the energy transition, the provision of clear, stable and reasonable regulations will allow energy producers such as Vermilion to continue to operate in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.
We believe that domestic energy supply should be prioritized over importing oil and gas, for its contributions to national energy security, the economic benefits it provides to local communities through employment and local investment, its compliance with stringent safety, environmental and workplace regulations, and the lower carbon footprint it often provides.
We are aware that the trade and industry associations we belong to may, as part of their roles, represent their membership by advocating for government policy and regulations. We monitor that advocacy to ensure that it fairly represents our position and the goals of the Paris agreement.
To support this, we annually review all memberships to assess alignment, and provide our Executive Committee and Board of Directors Sustainability Committee with a summary, including misalignment and recommendations. In 2022, three associations had no commitment or equivalent to the Paris agreement, and one had lobbying activities misaligned with Paris. When there are discrepancies between the organization’s position and ours, we engage with the association to understand and influence the issue. We consider withdrawal of membership only if no improvement proves likely.
In 2021, we did not engage lobbying firms to act on our behalf. Our membership fees in industry and trade organizations totalled $1.7 million.
We actively participate in government industry working groups, often at government request. These are generally designed to seek our expertise on technical aspects, and use our input as one of many stakeholder positions to be considered prior to setting out regulatory or legislative changes.
- Participating in advocacy registries wherever required
- Providing summaries of our advocacy positions, and
- Listing our membership in industry and other associations
We are committed to transparency in our advocacy efforts, including:
Advocacy Registries
We provide reporting on our engagements with public officials based on the regulations in place in our regions; these include:
- France: Vermilion’s report for the High Authority for the Transparency of Public Life Report
- Ireland: Quarterly reporting to the Register of Lobbying
Summary of Advocacy Positions
Support for the role of responsibly produced oil and natural gas to provide affordable and dependable energy as a bridge to greater reliance on renewable fuels
Support for the transformation of industrial and extractive sectors in the service of the regions
Advocacy for the role of small natural gas fields during the energy transition, including government adherence to legal timelines for permitting to support gas production, and advocacy that part of the revenues from gas production should be invested locally
Support for the role of natural gas in improving domestic energy security during the energy transition, including as lower carbon than imported gas, for the government’s 2050 net zero carbon targets, and for the potential use of the Corrib infrastructure for blue or green hydrogen
Completed working with government and the extractive industry to support a new regulatory approach to working in water protection zones; finalized working with BVEG, industry and ministries on new deep drilling regulation
Advocacy for permitting and progressing projects in a timely fashion
Membership in Business and Industry Associations
Membership Association 102-13 | Industry and Business Association Details: Total Investment in Industry and Trade Associations is $1,135,336.00 | |
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Ambes Regional Water Basin Committee | Our Ambes superintendent has been elected as a voluntary member of this basin committee, having a key role in two commissions: the Littoral Commission and the Industry Commission. The committee brings together a wide range of regional stakeholders focused on the health of the water basin. | |
Australian Institute of Petroleum (AiP) | Vermilion is a member of AIP, which was formed in 1976 to promote industry self-regulation and effective dialogue between the oil industry, the government and the community. | |
Australian Marine Oil Spill Centre (AMOSC) | A not-for-profit subsidiary of the Australian Institute of Petroleum, AMOSC operates Australia’s marine oil spill response equipment stockpile on 24 hour stand-by for rapid response anywhere around the Australian coast.
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Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) | Vermilion is an active member of APPEA, which represents Australia’s oil and gas exploration and production industry. Our Managing Director in Australia has been a long-time director on the APPEA board, and previously served as the board’s Chair. | |
Australian Resources Energy Group | As a member-based organization, AMMA’s work in policy and advocacy directly shapes the Australian resources, energy and supply industry.
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Bordeaux Maritime and Port Club
| Promotes and supports Bordeaux maritime activity, and fosters the economic development of the port of Bordeaux
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Business in the Community Ireland
| A movement for sustainable change in business, with a purpose to inspire and enable businesses to bring about a sustainable, low carbon economy and a more inclusive society where everyone thrives.
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Federal Association of Natural Gas, Petroleum and Geoenergy (BVEG) | BVEG represents the interests of German oil and gas producers, underground storage facility operators and service providers active in the industry.
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Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) | CAPP’s mission, on behalf of the Canadian upstream oil and natural gas industry, is to advocate for and enable economic competitiveness and safe, environmentally and socially responsible performance.
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Dutch oil and gas explorer and producer association (NOGEPA) | Vermilion is an active member of the Dutch oil and gas explorer and producer association. We participate in several workgroups and sub-committees, working closely with other industry representatives to continuously improve our practices related to safety, environment and public acceptance.
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Energy Sector Sustainability Leadership Initiative
| This voluntary working group focused on sustainability benchmarking within the oil and gas industry in Calgary when it launched in 2013, and has since transitioned into a focus on energy sector sustainability best practices. Vermilion chaired the initiative in 2017, and has continued as an active member since then | |
Eurogas
| Eurogas is an association representing the European gas wholesale, retail and distribution sectors, which aims to strengthen the role of gas in the energy mix through ongoing dialogue with European industry players, global gas producers, and relevant institutions and organizations
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EVOLEN (France)
| Supports oil, gas and new energy players in the development of responsible, sustainable, and economical solutions to ensure access to energy for all, and accelerate the energy transition
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French FAB | An organization to promote French industry.
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Geothermie Nederland
| Trade association for geothermal energy, committed to the availability of sustainable and affordable heat for citizens and businesses
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German Society for Petroleum and Coal Science Technology (DGMK) | The purpose of DGMK is to promote and advance science, research, technology and continuing education relating to fossil fuels.
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Emsachse | Vermilion is a member of Emsachse, a multi-sector collaboration designed to address joint challenges and interests in the Ems-Axis growth region. This alliance of companies, municipalities, educational institutions, chambers and associations throughout East Frisia aims is to raise the profile of a common economic region while at the same time strengthening economic growth and creating additional jobs.
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Energy and Equipment Materials Users Association (EEMUA) | Vermilion joined EEMUA, which is focused on supporting its member companies with safety, efficiency and compliance good practice, in 2018. | |
France-Canada Chamber of Commerce | Vermilion began serving on the Board of Directors in 2012. The Chamber of Commerce promotes business activities between Canada and France.
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Geothermal Forum Lower Saxony | The Geothermal Forum provides a platform for the exchange and preparation of information for the geothermal industry.
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Irish Offshore Operators’ Association (IOOA) | Founded in 1995, the IOOA is a representative organization for the Irish offshore oil and gas industry. By cooperating and providing a common approach to issues such as safety, the environment, legislation and employment, the IOOA pro-actively assists in the development of oil and gas exploration and production in Ireland’s waters.
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Hungarian Mining Association (MBSZ) | Vermilion is a member of the MBSZ, an advocacy organization representing all sectors of the mining industry.
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MEDEF | MEDEF is the leading network of entrepreneurs in France.
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Petroleum Association of Wyoming (PAW) | PAW is a statewide trade association dedicated to the betterment of the state’s oil and gas industry. The association seeks to educate all levels of government about the responsible development of oil and gas to ensure the industry’s continued vitality.
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Pole AVENIA Geosciences Innovation Valley
| Vermilion began serving on the Board of Directors of this voluntary competitiveness cluster in 2013; AVENIA has many programs related to supporting geothermal development in France and optimizing recovery from existing hydrocarbon reservoirs. It brings together companies, research laboratories and schools, and also involves governments and local organizations
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Saskatchewan Petroleum Industry Government Environmental Committee | SPIGEC was formed in 1992, and responds to the need for government and industry to work cooperatively to resolve provincial environmental management issues. SPIGEC’s overriding goal is to ensure the continued growth of the oil and natural gas industry with development proceeding in a manner that minimizes adverse environmental effects.
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UFIP (Union française des industries pétrolières) | UFIP is the French industry association for the petroleum industry, including companies operating in France in one of the oil and gas industry’s three major segments: exploration and production, refining, and marketing. It provides the French government with ongoing industry feedback on various European Union directives/initiatives.
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Western Energy Alliance | Western Energy Alliance is a nonprofit trade association representing companies engaged in all aspects of environmentally responsible exploration and production of oil and natural gas in the western United States.
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