December 2018 News and Analysis from NRGI

News from NRGI
21 December 2018

Highlights

Civil Society Playing Key Role in Extractive Sector Reform in Once-Autocratic Tunisia
NRGI and partners have played a major role in institutionalizing a multi-stakeholder platform in formerly autocratic Tunisia. As a result, a diverse range of actors (including those from civil society) are involved in crucial discussions around natural resource governance reform.

Revisit the Most-Read NRGI Blog Posts of 2018

The resource governance dimension of global smash film Black Panther was the subject of two of NRGI's most popular posts this year. Nigeria's oil-backed loans, Mongolia's mining tax regime and gender inclusivity were also hot topics.

Ukraine Legislates Extractives Sector Transparency and Accountability
NRGI was instrumental in the passage of a Ukrainian law that mandates the disclosure of extractive payments at the project level, the disclosure of the ultimate beneficial owners of companies, and the disclosure of material elements of contracts relating to the extractive industry.

The Fiscal Regime for Uganda’s Mining Sector: A Need for Reform?
The Ugandan government has declared its intention to enact a new fiscal regime for the mining sector. To attract much needed investment, the fiscal regime must be stable; it should therefore impose a tax burden that is neither too high nor too low.

9e Session de l’Université d’été sur la Gouvernance des Industries Extractives en Afrique Francophone
Toute personne intéressée à participer au programme est invitée à en faire la demande au plus tard le 31 Janvier 2019.

Focus on Myanmar

Video: Myanmar’s Jade Rush

In Myanmar, many jade companies mine without regard for the environment, local communities or connections to the country's conflicts. While tentative reforms are underway in the multibillion-dollar jade industry, more sweeping changes are needed to ensure the sector benefits citizens. (Watch this video in Myanmar language.)

Tip-Toeing Toward Transparency: Jade and Gemstone Sector Disclosures in Myanmar
As Myanmar undergoes validation against the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative standard, stakeholders can use this briefing to interrogate and correct apparent inconsistencies in jade and gemstone sector statistics.

Myanmar’s Jade: From Mine to Market

This booklet tells the story of Myanmar's jade industry from mine to market. Using photography and data visualizations, it sheds light on key aspects of an industry that has historically been shrouded in secrecy.

Modernizing Permitting to Drive Development of Myanmar’s Mining Sector
In an opinion piece in The Global New Light of Myanmar, NRGI's Sebastian Sahla writes that mining permitting in Myanmar is extremely slow, opaque, complex and unpredictable and that a proposed cadaster represents a unique opportunity to improve governance and attract investment.