Analyzing drivers of conflict in energy infrastructure projects: Empirical case study of natural gas pipeline sectors

Abstract

Energy infrastructure projects have caused various conflicts between stakeholders, particularly among the residents around construction sites and operators. The conflicts are largely due to the "Not in My Backyard" mentality associated with hazardous projects. In natural gas pipeline (NGP) projects, conflicts have been increasing with the increase in a wider range of linear projects, and they have been worsening because of the lack of clear countermeasures. This study proposes an effective conflict management strategy for NGP projects in Korea. To achieve the objectives, 25 conflict drivers were identified and 143 case-based surveys were conducted to determine the causal relationship between the drivers and the level of conflict using structural equation modeling (SEM). The SEM results show that factors such as economic (e.g., decreased value of the land), construction-related (e.g., disturbance due to using the original route and site), and safety-related characteristics (e.g., concerns about explosions and accidents) are the most important in understanding the causes of conflicts. Based on the causal relationship, five key strategies were proposed to manage the critical conflicts. This study can serve as a basis for implementing better conflict management plans in the future for a more sustainable project execution.