Austrian oil and gas group OMV has been defending its decision to develop parts of the South Pars Gas Field in the Persian Gulf in conjunction with National Iranian Oil Company. A move which should prove more popular, however, is OMV's decision to promote road safety awareness across its fuel retail network.
The US has spoken out against OMV’s decision to partner with Iran in the gas development, commenting that it undermines the West’s attempts to dissuade Iran from pursuing its recently announced nuclear program. According to Energia.gr, the US has been advising western companies not to invest in Iran.
OMV has, however, spoken in defense of its actions, saying that it has broken no international laws, said Earthtimes. The environmental publication cited an OMV spokesman as telling Austria’s Der Standard: Europe needs natural gas, Iran has the world’s second largest gas reserves after Russia, and we are trying to secure energy for Europe.
A policy that will perhaps be better received by OMV’s critics is the company’s decision to add an international road safety campaign to its ‘Move & Help’ social responsibility initiative.
Auto Racing Daily has reported that OMV will use its petrol station network to help raise awareness of road safety. OMV’s petrol stations in 10 countries will be used to promote the company’s campaign. A total of 200,000 reflector strips will be sold across OMV’s networks in Austria, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Romania, Serbia and Slovakia, with the proceeds going to raise safety awareness.
Auto Racing Daily reported OMV as saying that it intends to integrate its ‘Move & Help’ program into its business operations, including its forecourt network, in order to heighten awareness of its social aims.