This article was originally published on page 10 of Pretoria News on September 22, 2008

South African oil workers Dan Laarman and Robert Berrie have been released after a mercifully short period as hostages in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta.

They, and most of the world, were probably unaware of the devastating impact the oil industry has had on Africa.

In 2001 Washington called for a major diversification of US oil supplies away from the politically volatile Persian Gulf to “friendlier” sub-Saharan Africa.

Ghana discovers oil, and has an opportunity to use it for development—if it can avoid the usual traps of new oil wealth in developing countries.

Washington, D.C. – The United States Senate is holding two hearings today on the issue of natural resource extraction and accountability.

Concern over the destiny of the country compelled the formation of a civil society coalition, “Oil Revenues – Under Public Oversight!”. We believe that Kazakhstan needs to demonstrate its adherence to the principles of transparency, democracy and responsible management of natural wealth in order to create favorable conditions for the development of other sectors of the economy and to enhance healthcare, education and the social welfare system….

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The Publish What You Pay (PWYP) international coalition of NGOs warmly welcomes the launch of the “Oil Revenues – Under the Public Oversight” coalition in Kazakhstan. It marks an important step forward in civil society’s efforts to hold the Kazakh government accountable for the management of revenues from the country’s valuable natural resource industries.

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This is a letter from the NGO coaliton “Oil Revenues – Under Public Oversight” in Kazakhstan to the EBRD President regarding its support for the extractive industries in the country and its endorsement of the EITI.

Submission by Save the Children UK to the Commission for Africa regarding the promotion of revenue transparency. Includes background information and several policy recommendations.

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“Transparent and accountable management of oil revenues, which will comprise a majority of Timor’s income in the near future, is essential to ensure that such money is used more effectively to promote national development. It will greatly increase the hope that Timor Leste will escape the ‘resource curse’ of weak growth, corruption, authoritarian government and instability that has afflicted so many oil-rich developing countries…”

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Global Witness submission on Timor-Leste Government’s draft petroleum legislation
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The leadership by Tony Blair, the Prime Minister, of a worldwide initiative to improve transparency of revenue payments by oil, gas and mining companies to governments is to be welcomed. The government is right to recognise that accountability for revenue flows is central to poverty reduction in resource-rich developing countries.