March 2022 News and Analysis from NRGI
Implications of Russia's invasion of Ukraine
Russia's war in Ukraine immediately impacted natural resource governance globally. NRGI experts have responded with insights including a Foreign Policy piece on how oil giants can avoid propping up kleptocrats, and an African Arguments commentary on implications of the European energy crunch for oil and gas producers in sub-Saharan Africa. Later today NRGI's Alexandra Gillies will join a Twitter Spaces roundtable on how the war could impact growth of the fossil fuel sector over the coming decade. (Read NRGI's statement on the invasion.)
Highlights
No Time to Waste: Governing Cobalt Amid the Energy Transition
Cobalt is currently critical to the energy transition, but for how long? Improved governance is important for both citizens in mining countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and humanity in its race to meet the Paris climate goals. (Also available in French.)
Equity and Good Governance Are Essential for the Energy Transition
New findings from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research can help to inform the policies and plans of governments, investors, and oil and gas companies as they chart their roles in the accelerating global energy transition.
OECD Integrity Forum: What Standards and Practices Can Prevent Corruption from Infiltrating Critical Mineral Supply Chains?
The rising demand for minerals used in green technologies risks triggering a surge in corruption similar to that of past commodity booms. Join experts at this event tomorrow to explore measures for countering the corruption threat.
Celebrating Inspirational People Advancing Gender Equality in Extractives
For International Women’s Day, NRGI asked inspiring colleagues, partners and training alumni about their experiences and perspectives on what’s needed to advance gender equality in extractives, what’s already working, and what excites them about the future. More in this Twitter thread.
Blog posts
Ending Nigeria’s Oil Dependency: Not If, But When…and How
The issue of “post-oil” economic diversification received considerable attention in Nigeria after the 2014 commodity price crash, again during the 2016 economic crisis and more recently with the coronavirus pandemic influenced global crisis.
Uganda’s Oil: Seven Recommendations After the Final Investment Decision
Since the discovery of commercially viable oil deposits in 2006, Uganda has experienced a long and rocky road to reach a final investment decision.
2021 Resource Governance Index: Common Questions & Answers
How can civil society and accountability actors pushing for change use the 2021 Resource Governance Index? Is the RGI technical or perception-based? This post answers some of the most frequently asked questions about the 2021 index. (Also in French and Spanish.)
Publications
New Producer Contract Terms and Uncertainty: Lessons From the Recent Past
The petroleum industry is volatile, and governments in “new producer” countries have operated at a significant information disadvantage when negotiating with international oil companies.
NRGI Impact: Knitting the Fabric of Civil Society Activism in Tunisia (2013-2020)
Tunisia is the only country to have accomplished a peaceful transition from authoritarianism after the Arab Spring uprisings, but its democratic gains are not yet entrenched.
Events
Natural Resource Governance and Energy Transition: Policies and Practice
Applications open until 10 April for this year's online advanced course on natural resource governance and energy transition in partnership with ETH NADEL. A limited number of scholarships are available. Prospective applicants can read perspectives from last year's learners and learn more from alumni from Latin America in a series of short videos.
11e session de l'Université d’été sur la gouvernance des industries extractives en Afrique francophone
Tomorrow is the deadline for applications to the annual Francophone Africa resource governance course.
Encuentro Latinoamericano de Minería - ELAMI 2022
On 7 April join NRGI's Juan Luis Dammert online for the Spanish-language Latin America Mining Meeting (ELAMI), where he will share perspectives on the region's mining challenges amid the energy transition.
NRGI in the news and on the web
What does Exxon’s exit from Russia mean for the climate?
Independent (U.K.)
These fossil fuel companies sent more than $15B in taxes to Russia since it annexed Crimea, NGOs say
CNN
Au Congo-Brazzaville, la famille Sassou-Nguesso n’en fait qu’à sa dette
Libération
Botswana, Ghana, South Africa show what Nigeria is missing
Business Day (Nigeria)
Podcast: La Chine et le projet Simandou en Guinée
AfrikChine
Systematic underreporting of public debt statistics: 50 years of evidence and recent progress
World Bank
RDC : l’ONG NRGI invite le Gouvernement à observer la bonne gouvernance pour tirer profit du marché de cobalt
Zoom Eco
How a participatory approach helped the NRGI to develop effective anti-corruption guidance for oil, gas and mining sectors
Basel Institute on Governance
Natural Resource–Based Development in Africa
University of Toronto
Uganda, Tanzania to Become Oil Economies
The Exchange
La gouvernance minière en RDC est la plus faible de tous les pays du monde (rapport)
Zoom Eco
Governors Doubt NNPC’s N287bn Profit, Call for More Transparency
THISDAY (Nigeria)
Locked Out of a Just Transition: Fossil Fuel Financing in Africa
BankTrack