Overview of the Extractive Industries

Oil provides a major share of government revenues and exports, and has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the economy. The Congo also has gold and other mineral resources. Since the crises of 1997 and 1998, the recovery of oil prices has helped to revive Congo's economy.

Status of EITI Implementation

On 9 June 2011, the EITI International Board decided to renew Congo's EITI Candidate status for 18 months (until 9 December 2012), by which time Congo will be required to have completed an EITI Validation that demonstrates compliance with the 2011 edition of the EITI Rules.

On 14 December 2010, the EITI Board concluded that the Republic of the Congo has made meaningful progress in implementing the EITI. The Board agreed that the Republic of the Congo would retain its status as an EITI Candidate countries, subject to a clearly defined and agreed work plan for achieving Compliant status.

On 9 March 2010, Congo applied to extend their deadline for completing EITI Validation. The EITI Board agreed to grant Congo an extension. Peter Eigen sent a letter to the President conveying the Board's decision. The country had until 9 September 2010 to complete Validation. The final Validation report was submitted to the Board on 9 September 2010.

The first EITI report was adopted on 8 August 2009. The second EITI Report covering oil and mining revenues for 2007-2009 was published on 15 November 2010. The third report on 2010 was published on 31 December 2011.

Congo was accepted as an EITI Candidate Country at the Board meeting in Accra on 22 February 2008.

The Government announced its intention to join the Initiative in June 2004. It is since October 2007 that real progress was made in the Republic of Congo. The three stakeholder groups then started to cooperate in a constructive way, with sufficient guarantees for civil society to participate freely and independently. An Executive Committee and a Consultative Committee were set up and its members appointed on 4 October 2007. An EITI coordinator has been appointed and as president of the Executive Committee works alongside the two vice presidents, from civil society and the industry respectively. the first workplan was finalised and accepted on 28 December 2007.

Governance of EITI implementation

EITI implementation is governed by a multi-stakeholder Executive Committee (Comité Exécutif), which is under the authority of the Minister of Finance. It has 25 members: six representing civil society, six the industry and 13 the government. The President of the Committee, Florent Michel Okoko, represents the Government. The Vice Presidents are the Head of PWYP Congo (Civil Society) and the Representative of Total (Industry). The day-to-day implementation of the work program is ensured by a Permanent Secretary (Secrétaire Exécutif).

EITI National Coordinator and Focal Point

Florent Michel Okoko
President of the EITI Executive Committee
Ministry of the Economy, Finances and Budget
Brazzaville
Email: msokoko [at] yahoo [dot] com
Tel. +242 676 64 44 / +242 555 01 72

Companies operating*

Oil & gas companies: Afren, Chevron Corp*, Eni*, TOTAL*, Tullow Oil, Exxon Mobil*, Lundin, SNPC
* EITI Supporting Company

Mining companies: Metorex Ltd, Camec

* Note: Company list based on EITI research and is not conclusive

For further information, contact the Focal Point, or Policy Adviser Tim Bittiger at the EITI International Secretariat