PWYP - Coalition press releases

Large Extractive Corporations Operating in Kazakhstan To Disclose Their Payments

jwilliams — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:56:25 +0100

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act passed by the U.S. Senate on July 15, 2010 will now allow for Kazakhstani citizens to learn about the payments made by the large extractive corporations operating in the country.

Landmark US legislation sheds light on billions in payments from oil and mineral companies

jwilliams — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 10:46:50 +0100

Last night the U.S. Congress voted in favour of sweeping financial reforms which include a landmark provision requiring oil, gas and mining companies registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to publish how much they pay to foreign countries and the U.S. government.

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act is expected to be signed into law by President Obama next week and will give citizens of resource-rich countries essential information to hold their governments to account and ensure that natural resources generate benefits for everyone, rather than a select few.

U.S. legislation shines light on billions in oil and mineral payments

jwilliams — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 11:46:37 +0100

Measure sets new global standard for corporate transparency

The Senate gave final approval today to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act with a landmark provision requiring energy and mining companies registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to disclose how much they pay to foreign countries and the U.S. government for oil, gas, and minerals.

This historic measure gives citizens in resource-rich countries information they need to combat corruption in the oil and mineral sector and to demand government accountability for responsible resource use.

PWYP Coalition Spotlight: Azerbaijan

jwilliams — Thu, 13 May 2010 16:54:16 +0100

The Coalition of Azerbaijan Non-Government Organizations “For Improving Transparency in Extractive Industries,” the PWYP-affiliated national coalition in Azerbaijan

In Azerbaijan, the extractive sector, mainly oil and gas, accounts for 54% of GDP, and has provided the country with stable GDP growth in recent years. Perhaps it is no surprise then that Azerbaijan was among the pioneering countries to implement the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). Azerbaijan soon became an EITI “poster child,” producing regular EITI reconciliation reports and being granted compliant status at the EITI international conference held in Doha in February 2009. However, these successes were somewhat overshadowed by the delays it faced in fulfilling important conditions set by the EITI Board in granting Azerbaijan its compliant status. One of these conditions was the timely establishment of a multi-stakeholder group (MSG) to formalise civil society participation in Azerbaijan’s EITI process, a crucial element of the EITI framework.

In Midst of Massive Spill, Oil Industry Fighting Transparency and Accountability

jwilliams — Wed, 12 May 2010 15:17:02 +0100

Senate Should Pass Cardin Amendment to Financial Reform Bill

In the midst of an unfolding environmental disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, the oil industry is supporting secrecy and business as usual on Capitol Hill by opposing a critical amendment to the financial reform bill. The bipartisan amendment would increase financial transparency in the oil, gas, and mining industries and provide valuable information to investors in the United States and to citizens in poor countries around the world, says international humanitarian organization Oxfam America. The amendment is likely to face a floor vote this week.

Press Release PWYP Tanzania : Coalition Launch

asmara — Mon, 10 May 2010 11:59:01 +0100

Tanzania, 9th May 2010

Tanzania Launches the Publish What You Pay Coalition and Campaign

Civil Society Organisations in Tanzania have had since September 2009 declared the intension to establish the National Coalition of Publish What You Pay (PWYP), a resource transparency campaign focusing on oil, gas, minerals, forestry (including wildlife) and fisheries.

Countries served notice by oil and mining transparency initiative

jwilliams — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:56:59 +0100

The board of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) today considered the status of 18 countries which were unable to meet the deadline they were given in 2008 to complete external verification of their progress under the global transparency initiative.

The EITI board rejected the option of granting a blanket extension to all countries in recognition of the need to maintain its credibility as an initiative that respects its own rules. Instead, the board granted an extension to 16 countries following a case-by-case review which teased out the specific difficulties countries have faced in meeting the deadline. Countries were granted an extension if these difficulties were judged to be exceptional and unforeseen.

Press release on Government Disclosure in Ghana

asmara — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 16:49:55 +0100

Ghana: CSOs Welcome Gov’t Disclosure of Petroleum Revenue Management Bill

Download the press release

Standard Setters Risk Putting Oil, Gas and Mining Companies Before Investors and Citizens In Steps Toward New Rules

jwilliams — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 19:15:05 +0100

The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) took important steps today to improve reporting and disclosure by the oil, gas and mining industries. But extractive industry experts said the proposals have been weakened by pressure from companies and have yet to clearly recommend reporting of the full information that investors and citizens need.

Global oil and mining transparency initiative arrives at key deadline

jwilliams — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:53:50 +0000

Many countries yet to overcome validation hurdle

Twenty out of 22 countries have not met the two-year deadline they were given in 2008 to complete external verification of their progress under the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), a voluntary multistakeholder initiative which aims to increase transparency of natural resource revenues. Validation, as the process is known, is a critical quality assurance mechanism which underpins the credibility of the EITI. Progress in different countries varies but a large question mark now hangs over the EITI’s effectiveness as an international standard for improving transparency and accountability in the oil, gas and mining industries, said global civil society coalition Publish What You Pay (PWYP) today.

Additional resources:
Chart showing progress of the 22 EITI countries with a deadline of 9 March 2010
Short guide to EITI Validation