The people around the Yadana gas project and pipeline have benefited from jobs and investments in health care and education, chief executive David O'Reilly said in an interview in Bangkok yesterday.

The company, which has a 28.3 per cent stake in the project, stands to lose any tax benefits under a Bill approved by a US congressional committee on Oct 23.

'Our commitment is to try to stay to be a positive influence,' said Mr O'Reilly. 'It isn't going to change anything if we leave. We are a minority investor in this project.

'One must remember that most of the gas from this production comes here to Thailand to supply the electricity needs.

'If we leave or are forced to leave, somebody else will step into our shoes and the gas will continue to flow.'

A number of countries may buy up the Yadana stake should Chevron leave.

China, India, Japan and South Korea are competing for a share of Myanmar's resources as more gas reserves are discovered.

'Indian and Chinese companies are waiting to get in if there is an opportunity,' said Mr Tony Regan, a consultant with Nexant in Singapore.

'The international companies will hold on unless there is considerable pressure.'

The Church of Sweden, which owns shares in Chevron, wants the company to disclose more of how it does business and explain how it takes responsibility for human rights abuses in Myanmar.

'Together with other shareholders, the Church of Sweden will, among other things, demand that Chevron clearly shows how its business affects Burma's people,' said the church, which has about seven million members.

Consumer groups in the US have also urged the company to divest itself of its business in Myanmar.

BLOOMBERG