NPRA '08: NPRA to launch public awareness plan

31 March 2008 01:03  [Source: ICIS news]

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (ICIS news)--NPRA is preparing to launch a grassroots campaign to educate the public on the benefits of the petrochemical industry and the impact of proposed legislation on the US economy, its chairman and its president said on Sunday.

"We need to do a better job of telling our story – on the benefits to the economy, employment and how much we do to reliably supply the fuels and chemicals that consumers want and need," said Norm Phillips, NPRA chairman and president of the fuels division of LyondellBasell, at the 33rd National Petrochemical & Refiners Association (NPRA) meeting.

The NPRA will seek to leverage the industry's employee base, he said.

"Employees are the best spokespeople we have – and they're voters," said Phillips. "We as companies need to do a better job of giving them the information they need to reach out to their communities and elected officials."

The NPRA will develop "an intense grassroots campaign in the coming weeks and months," said NPRA president Charles Drevna. "Our goal is to make the average US citizen understand the domestic petrochemical industry."

The US public still has very little understanding of what the petrochemical industry does and how it drives the economy, Drevna said.

"And if we don't do a good job of getting that message out, then shame on us," he said.

Drevna said the public must understand that there are unintended consequences of legislation detrimental to the industry.

"I don't think anyone wants to see the US economy come to a halt or for our competitive advantage as an industry to disappear," said Drevna.

While NPRA has not set a specific budget for its outreach efforts, Drevna said it would be a "concerted long-term effort."

"We want to get out in front of the issues instead of being reactive and just putting out the fire du jour," he said.

The 33rd annual NPRA meeting started today and ends on Tuesday.

By: Joseph Chang
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