October 2017 News and Analysis from NRGI
Diagnosing Governance Challenges in the Extractive Sector: The Resource Governance Index and Beyond
As part of the 2017 Civil Society Policy Forum of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Annual Meetings, NRGI hosted the Washington, D.C., launch of the 2017 Resource Governance Index. A blog post previewed the event, exploring the index and finding that transparency does not always go hand in hand with protection of civic space. Listen to the discussion in full, read a transcript or watch United Nations Economic Commission for Africa executive secretary Vera Songwe discuss the index on Nigeria's Channels Television:
Apply for Reversing the Resource Curse: Theory and Practice 2018
This advanced-level multi-stakeholder course, held in Budapest, is open to exceptional leaders from government, civil society, parliaments, media, international development agencies and industry associations as well as academics, researchers and analysts from universities and think tanks. A limited number of scholarships will be available on a competitive basis for applicants from Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Mexico, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nigeria, Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda. (Exceptions may be made from this list for outstanding applicants from other countries.) Apply by 1 December using this form.
Eighteen Months on From Panama Papers, Governments Gather in Asia to Tackle Secret Extractives Ownership
The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, in partnership with the Indonesian government and others (including NRGI), hosted two days of discussion and workshops in which governments and civil society representatives highlighted best practices and exchanged experiences. Watch NRGI's Daniel Kaufmann lead a discussion on "Ending company anonymity: The key to fighting corruption."
Model Communities: Philippines Stakeholders Flex Mining Negotiation Muscle
Earlier this month NRGI's Thomas Lassourd visited Davao, Philippines, to help lead a workshop on using Excel-based fiscal models to forecast potential revenues from mining projects.
Spotlight on Data
Optimizing Ghana’s Fiscal Rule
Ghana's vice-president, Mahamudu Bawumia, recently announced plans to restore fiscal sustainability in the country. This NRGI policy brief sets out 11 recommendations to make the fiscal rule work for Ghana.
Resource Governance Index Points to State-Owned Enterprises as Key Mongolia Reform Target
Mongolia’s Resource Governance Index results are mixed. The index reveals a big “implementation gap” between rules related to extractives governance and their enforcement.
Blog
To Float or Not to Float: Aramco IPO a Bellwether for State-Owned Enterprise Governance
The twists and turns around the possible initial public offering of some portion of Saudi Aramco have been monitored by the press like a sporting event. The long-term influence of Aramco’s decision on Saudi Arabia and the global governance of state-owned oil companies promises to be significant, writes Patrick Heller. Watch him discuss the IPO on Al Jazeera [Arabic]:
Policy-Maker Ulanbek Ryskulov on Kyrgyz Republic Mining Sector Reform
"Transparency has become one of the most effective instruments we use to build trust in communities about mineral resource governance—it was crucial that we showed the public how decisions are made. Data disclosures have also allowed us to significantly reduce citizens’ distrust."
Ten Questions About Extension of Massive Azerbaijan Oil Deal
The new contract seems unique and to a certain extent unprecedented in the history of production-sharing agreements in Azerbaijan and perhaps the region. (Read in Azerbaijani here.)
Mexico Energy Secretariat Senior Advisor on Hydrocarbon Policy, Spurring Increased Competition, and Regulation
Three years ago, Mexico opened up to private energy firms, ending Pemex’s monopoly in the oil and gas industry. Priscila Rodríguez Santamaría, senior advisor for hydrocarbon policy to Mexico’s Energy Secretariat, spoke with NRGI about this new period in the history of Mexico’s oil industry after participating in the Blavatnik School of Government Executive Course on Oil, Gas and Mining Governance.
Cuatro estrategias para combatir el impacto de las industrias extractivas sobre el medio ambiente en América Latina
Events
Africa Oil Governance Summit
Instituted in 2015, the Africa Oil Governance Summit is a two-day annual event that brings together stakeholders in Africa’s petroleum industry to deliberate on emerging governance issues in the sector. On 13 November, NRGI legal analyst Nicola Woodroffe will take part in a panel discussion on open contracting. To register and for more information, visit the conference website.
NRGI in the news and on the web
NRGI Latin America Director Carlos Monge Addresses Canada's Sub-Committee on International Human Rights (audio)
Parliament of Canada
Tanzania's LNG plans remain stalled
Petroleum Economist
Oil Discovery and Macroeconomic Management: The Recent Ghanaian Experience
The World Bank
Spies, Lies and the Oligarch: Inside London’s Booming Secrets Industry
Financial Times [paywall]
MOGE to Reveal Other Account details in Second EITI report
Myanmar Times
Tanzania Fights Against Under-Invoicing in Resource-Extraction Industries
The National (United Arab Emirates)
Government, Barrick deal takes new twist
The Citizen (Tanzania)
Tanzania: Investments in LNG Market Could be Idle, says Report
ESI Africa
Mind the Gap: Do we Need More (New) Initiatives on Natural Resource Governance?
Transparency and Accountability Initiative
Govt Urged to Ensure Natural Resources Income Goes to Union Fund
Eleven (Myanmar)
NRGI Proposes Fiscal Responsibility Rules for Ghana
Ghana Business News
Gestion des ressources naturelles : le Burkina bon élève selon NRGI
Les Editions Faso Actu
Curbing Fiscal Indiscipline: NRGI Shows the Way
The Finder (Ghana)
Resource Governance Index di konferensi tambang Jakarta
CNN Indonesia
Ghana oil and gas sector scores high in Resource Governance Index 2017
Ghana Business News
Publications
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NRGI has translated two of its flagship publications into additional languages. The 2017 Resource Governance Index report is now available in Myanmar language, and the Natural Resource Charter is in Mongolian.