EITI Announcements
The Africa Progress Panel, an independent mechanism that monitors implementation of commitments and report on progress in Africa, recently launched its 2008 report. In the report, the panelists (including Kofi Annan, Tony Blair, Bob Geldof and Muhammad Yunus) conclude that together with the APRM, the EITI has been "successful, even groundbreaking", in its efforts to improve governance.
At the Iraq Compact Review Conference 29 May 2008, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih said: "The Government has also committed to join the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI)." Jonas Moberg, Head of the EITI International Secretariat, welcomed Iraq's commitment to implement the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, and made the following statement:
PRESS RELEASE
HOUSTON AND OSLO, 12 MAY 2008. Monday Peter Eigen, Chair of the EITI (Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative) and founder of Transparency International, launched a new guide for how companies can play a integral role in helping create transparency in the extractive sector. Together with Rich Kruger, President of ExxonMobil Production Company, he launched the new "EITI Business Guide". It outlines how business can support the implementation of the EITI, the international initiative to improve transparency in the management of oil, gas and mining resources.
7 May 2008 the EITI Board welcomed Côte d'Ivoire as an EITI Candidate Country and is now among the 23 countries in Africa, Asia, Middle East and Latin America that are underway in implementing this standard for transparency in the extractive industries. It now has two years to become compliant with the EITI Criteria and undergo validation.
On Monday 29 April Transparency International launched its report Promoting Revenue Transparency – 2008 Report on Revenue Transparency of Oil and Gas Companies.
PRESS RELEASE
WASHINGTON DC AND OSLO, 13 APRIL 2008. The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), the global coalition for transparency in the extractive industries, supports the World Bank’s effort to extend transparency in this sector beyond revenues through its new extractive industries initiative.
The Government of Iraq has formally committed to implement the EITI making it the single largest country in terms of proven oil reserves (11% of world’s resources) to do so.
The Asian Development Bank has formally endorsed the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.
On 18 December, 2007, the Committee on Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative announced the release of the Government’s seventh EITI report (Jan-June 2007) audited by Moore Stephens. The report is available here.