Mr. A.P. Dawson Manager Foinaven Business Unit BP Exploration Operating Company Ltd Britoil plc Golar-Nor House Howe Moss Drive Kirkhill Industrial Estate Dyce Aberdeen AB21 0GL 23 April, 1997

I have received your fax dated 9th (but sent on 10th) April and the attachments, including answers to some of the questions I raised in my letters of 21st and 27th March.

I repeat, that the basic and important question at issue between BP and Greenpeace is about the effects your products (oil) have on the climate. This is why Greenpeace has already challenged BP to a public debate on this vital issue.

However, I believe it is worth clarifying some of the minor points at issue between us in relation to the previous correspondence.

Firstly, thank you for confirming that you represent the Foinaven Business Unit alone and not the whole of BP either in the UK or internationally. Some of your previous statements had led me to believe otherwise. I am grateful for the clarification. One of those statements was your contention that BP's production would be declining and that opening new oilfields in the Atlantic Frontier would only slow down that decline. This is in contradiction to the statement made in BP's Annual Report that the company intends to grow in production by 5% per annum. You were clearly referring merely to the one aspect of the company's fossil fuel extraction business for which you are responsible. (If I am wrong about this, no doubt you can correct me, but you neglected to reply to this particular question in your latest fax.)

Second, thank you for confirming that you are responsible for the leaflet "A New Frontier for Britain". I have contacted colleagues in Friends of the Earth Scotland who, as you will no doubt know, have now demanded that BP withdraw the leaflet as it is incorrect and misrepresents Friends of the Earth's position entirely. (I enclose, for your information, a copy of the press release issued by Friends of the Earth Scotland which clarifies their position and repeats this demand.

Will you now confirm that the leaflet has been withdrawn from circulation? I notice (from Greenpeace supporters who have written to BP's head office) that the leaflet is being sent in reply to such correspondence. On the 4th April the leaflet was still being used to answer letters of concern by members of the public, but perhaps it has been amended. If not, please will you (as the responsible person) ensure that the offending incorrect information is removed, as requested by Friends of the Earth who are being misquoted in the leaflet, or the leaflet withdrawn from circulation.

Finally, I note your confirmation that the contract for solar panels referred to in the leaflet while "signed by BP Solar" will be "manufactured in Australia". I presume this is (at least partly) due to the fact that BP Solar have no manufacturing capacity in the UK as yet.

You have issued an invitation to me to visit the Petrojarl Foinaven. The technicalities of how BP intends to exploit the Atlantic Frontier for oil are not of vital import in the context of climate change. The Chair of BP has now issued an invitation to our Executive Director, Peter Melchett, to talk about the isssues that concern both organisations. While those arrangements are still being discussed, I will reply to your invitation separately.

Yours sincerely

Sarah Burton
Director, Campaign for Sane Energy
GREENPEACE UK

cc: Simon Reddy
Deborah Tripley