Whether in Mexico, Brazil, or Egypt, we have the same vision as we have in the United States: to be the place to work, the neighbor to have and the company to own. With those ideals as our compass, we have established operations in diverse locations and earned the trust and respect of employees, neighbors in the community, and local officials.

Mexico

Since 1996, El Paso Corporation has worked in Mexico with the cooperation of PEMEX to build and improve the nation’s natural gas pipeline infrastructure. As our presence in Mexico has grown, El Paso has worked closely with key regulatory agencies and humanitarian organizations to ensure that our operations are economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable.

Mexico’s economic growth has led to a greater need for safe, reliable energy. Together with PEMEX, El Paso has developed more than 240 miles of pipeline since 1996. This pipeline system helps transport natural gas within Mexico, but also connects with Tennessee Gas Pipeline and El Paso Natural Gas to transport natural gas between the United States and Mexico. In December 2007, we began operating the first privately held liquefied petroleum gas pipeline in Mexico.

Through its affiliates, El Paso maintains a permanent staff of approximately 50 employees and contractors at our offices in Mexico City. Additionally, El Paso’s affiliates provide for its field operations throughout Mexico, using more than 100 subcontracted personnel. We are focused on retaining the best talent in the market by providing competitive compensation packages, which trend toward the higher end of the local market standards for benefits, including medical and life insurance, and educational assistance for employees.

El Paso supports the efforts of several organizations in Mexico, ranging from grassroots organizations to international relief agencies, to improve the quality of life in the communities we touch. Since 2004, El Paso has invested nearly $500,000 in charitable contributions in Mexico.

Brazil

In Brazil, El Paso’s social investment takes the form of many programs and outreach initiatives that benefit our employees and their communities, as well as our neighbors. This approach has been fundamental to our business since we entered the country in 1997.

The benefits and compensation available to our 94 employees are competitive with the current market rates in Brazil. Our employees can also take advantage of additional medical and dental plans for themselves and their families, transportation vouchers, a private pension plan, and a profit-sharing program. We also offer flexible scheduling, wellness programs including a fitness center, and many opportunities for employees to continue their education, including a tuition assistance program. Additionally, El Paso has stable relationships with several trade unions.

When we sought an environmental permit for an exploratory drilling campaign in highly sensitive shallow waters off the northeast coast of Brazil, our team prepared a comprehensive environmental protection plan which includes five levels each of prevention and mitigation safeguards. The plan also involved our Brazilian neighbors. More than 200 local fishermen were trained as emergency first responders and provided with training to enhance their boating safety and navigational skills. Their boats were upgraded and outfitted with spill detection and GPS technology. Now these neighbors who are intimately familiar with these waters are trained to recognize and report potential environmental concerns.

El Paso works to be the neighbor to have in Brazil by also preserving the abundant natural environment and cultural identities of the communities we touch. We work with suppliers to share best practices and lessons learned from our social investments and encourage them to evaluate their own outreach programs. El Paso has a long history of social investment in Brazil and we are committed to continuing this tradition.

Egypt

In April 2007, El Paso Exploration & Production received its first onshore block in Egypt. The South Mariut block was one of the most sought-after parcels in the 2005-2006 Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation bid round. It is equivalent in size to approximately 230 Gulf of Mexico blocks and is located where the Nile River Delta and Western Desert meet.

El Paso has hired a permanent staff of approximately 15 employees and is working with local organizations to understand where our resources can be used to address the local needs.