Indonesia Leads Asia Pacific Region with Plans to Implement Transparency Standards
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW YORK—The Revenue Watch Institute joined with the global economic and business community today to applaud the Government of Indonesia's announcement that it plans to implement the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).
A total of 31 countries are currently implementing the EITI, a voluntary standard for disclosure of payments and good governance in the oil, gas and mining sectors.
In a decree signed on April 23, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said "the use of extractive resources, which are non-renewable, should be done efficiently and effectively in order to advance general prosperity."
The decree appoints Indonesia's Minister of Economic Affairs to lead EITI implementation and establishes a steering committee including ministers of energy, finance and home affairs, among others. It also details the composition of a multi-stakeholder EITI working group drawn from government, civil society and industry. With this statement of intent and the official responsibilities it assigns, Indonesia has begun the steps required for all countries seeking formal EITI candidate status.
In Jakarta, Revenue Watch Asia Pacific Coordinator Chandra Kirana said, "The creation of the presidential decree has been a long and inclusive process, involving several different ministries and consultations with civil society and industry. This level of cooperation strongly suggests that the new EITI multi-stakeholder team will be able to convene quickly, draft a work plan and make a successful application to the EITI international board.”
Karin Lissakers, director of the Revenue Watch Institute, praised Indonesia's leaders in particular for including expenditure reporting and sub-national governance of natural resources in the EITI plan. “With its unequivocal commitment to go beyond minimum EITI standards, the Indonesian government has offered an excellent example of how to suit the EITI to the national context in seeking the greatest benefit for citizens," said Lissakers
Indonesia's embrace of the EITI comes at a pivotal moment in the progress of the initiative. Earlier this month, the international EITI board granted extensions to 16 candidate countries so they could complete their national validation processes. Two countries, Equatorial Guinea and São Tomé and Príncipe, lost their EITI status.
A total of 31 countries are currently implementing the EITI, most recently including Iraq, Afghanistan and Chad. In the wake of the recent country extensions, Revenue Watch and its coalition partners have called for transparency and strict standards in the board's forthcoming decisions about EITI compliance.
CONTACTS:
Chandra Kirana, +628 111 09 389 (Jakarta)
ckirana@revenuewatch.org
Jed Miller, +1 917 257 0670 (New York City)
jmiller@revenuewatch.org
U.S. Said to Allow Drilling Without Needed Permits - The New York Times
Australia Gas Deal Renews Tension - Financial Times
Charged With Fraud, Nigeria's Ruling Party Leader Resigns - Reuters
Western Senators Propose Ban on Pacific Drilling - The New York Times
To Limit Corruption around Mining in Africa, Follow the Money - The Globe and Mail
Court Backs Oil Project - The New York Times
Transparency Increases, But There Is Still a Long Way to Go - The Phnom Penh Post
IMF Develops Project to Help Africa Deal with Illicit Trade - African Manager
Three-day Conference on Africa's Natural Resources Starts in Tanzania - Standard Times Press
After Oil Rig Blast, BP Refused to Share Underwater Spill Footage - ABC News
Finger-Pointing, but Few Answers at Hearings on Drilling - The New York Times
Complaints Over U.N. Prize Sponsored by Equatorial Guinea's Obiang - Reuters
Guide: Community-Company Grievance Resolution for Australian Mining Industry - Oxfam Australia (pdf)
Cote D'Ivoire: President for Life, and Then Some - The New York Times
In Midst of Massive Spill, Oil Industry Fighting Transparency and Accountability - Oxfam America
Leaked Oil Contracts in DRC Threaten Resource Wars and $10 Billion Rip-Off by British Company - Carbon Web
Contracts Confidential: Ending Secret Deals in the Extractive Industries
Contract transparency is sorely needed to improve the management of natural resource wealth. In a new report from RWI, authors Peter Rosenblum and Susan Maples delve into government and private sector objections to contract disclosure and make conclusions about what information may legitimately and reasonably be kept confidential, and how civil society institutions can better confront the challenge of secret deals.
Learn more about the report ...
NEW TRANSLATION: Revenue Redistribution at the Local Level
Many resource-rich countries are attempting to compensate their producing regions through shares of resource revenues to be spent at the local level. In "Extractive Industries Revenues Distribution at the Sub-National Level," development economics consultant Matteo Morgandi presents a comparative analysis of international legislation for distribution of extractive revenues from across all levels of government. Prepared at the request of the Peruvian National Congress, the report studies the legislative practices of seven resource-rich countries to identify potential and address challenges. Please note that this report is now also available in Vietnamese.
Learn more ...