Revenue Watch Institute - News

June 30, 2006

OSI'S Revenue Watch Program Becomes Independent Institute In June 2006, the Open Society Institute spun off its Revenue Watch program to create an independent Revenue Watch Institute (RWI), a sister organization to coordinate and lead the Soros Foundation Network's (SFN) work on transparency and accountability in resource-rich countries.
Read more ...

2006

Smuggling of Crude Petroleum and Products (In Arabic) The second transparency report produced by the inspector general of Iraq's ministry of oil, describing corruption in the oil sector, and in particular the multi-billion dollar smuggling of crude petroleum and refined products.
Download and read full report ... (pdf)

April 8-9 2006

Managing Iraq's Petroleum In April 2006, Iraq Revenue Watch hosted a workshop which brought together leading petroleum experts, activists, economists and policy makers from across Iraq's regions and political spectrum. Topics covered at the workshop included the need for clarifications and potential changes to the Constitution, discussion of a national strategy for exploration and development, designing a sound investment regime, and establishing unassailable legislation and efficient institutions. This report details the outcomes of the workshop.
Download and read full report ... (pdf)

May 2006

Geographical Distribution of Iraqi Oil Fields and Its Relation with the New Constitution Iraq's new Constitution has transferred managerial responsibility for new oil operations to the regions and provinces, and allowed them to take part in the production operations management of current fields. It has thus become necessary to accurately determine the geographical distribution of hydrocarbon wealth. This May 2006 report aims to illustrate the geographic distribution of Iraqi oil and gas fields according to provinces, and to show how this would reflect on these fields’ management following the new Constitution.
Download and read full report ... (pdf)

2006

Second Transparency Report on Smuggling of Crude Petroleum and Products

This document, produced by the inspector general of Iraq's ministry of oil and translated by Revenue Watch, describes corruption in the oil sector, and particularly the multi-billion dollar smuggling of crude petroleum and refined products.
Download and read full report ... (pdf)

MEDIA FEED

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

NEWS & INFORMATION ARCHIVES

2006, 2005

PUBLICATIONS

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 ...