Democratic Republic of Congo

Glencore supports the EITI

Supporting Companies:  Glencore The EITI is pleased to welcome Glencore International plc as the latest EITI Supporting Company. Glencore announced that it has become an EITI Supporting Company in its 2010 Sustainability Report, which was issued on 7 September 2011.

DR Congo's status as EITI Candidate renewed

The international EITI Board decided on 29 August 2011 to renew the Democratic Republic of Congo’s EITI Candidate status for 18 months, until 1 March 2013. By this time, the country will be required to have completed an EITI Validation.

The EITI Board decides EITI status of eight countries

In recognition of their progress in implementing the EITI, the EITI Board has concluded that Kazakhstan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Peru are Candidate countries that are “close to compliance”. This was announced following the meeting of the EITI Board in Brussels 13-14 December 2010.

EITI media roundup, July 2010

The EITI Secretariat monitors on a daily basis global media for mentions of the EITI. Below are some of the articles from the past month that the EITI Secretariat has picked up.

G-8 leaders urge EITI countries to complete implementation

G-8 leaders meeting in Muskoka in Canada on 25-26 June urged EITI candidate countries to complete EITI implementation to enhance governance and accountability in the extractive sector. The G-8 has consistently expressed its support of the EITI since the G8 Summit in Evian in 2003. In the final declaration titled "G8 Muskoka Declaration Recovery and New Beginnings" the G-8 leaders state:

EITI Board agrees status of 20 countries

BERLIN, 16 APRIL 2010.  The Board of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, the international standard for improved transparency in countries’ natural resource sector, met in Berlin 15-16 April. The Board discussed the request of 17 of the 32 countries currently implementing the EITI to extend their deadline for completing EITI Validation. In addition, Sao Tome and Principe had applied to voluntarily suspend their EITI Candidate status. 

DR Congo publishes its first EITI report

On 22 March 2010 the Democratic Republic of Congo launched its first EITI report. This marks the first time figures of the tax revenue from DRC's natural resources are made publicly available. The launch of the first EITI report was hailed as an important step towards improving transparency and accountability in DRC's management of natural resources.

EITI Chair Peter Eigen visits Rwanda, DRC and Mozambique

Peter Eigen, Chair of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), joined the new German Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development, Dirk Niebel on an official visit to Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Kivu) and Mozambique on 7-14 January 2010.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Candidate country Hidden:  Not Hidden EITI DRC website Overview of the Extractive Industries 10 million people (16%) of the Congolese population are directly or indirectly dependent on small scale mining. In the 1980s, the mining sector contributed 25% of total tax receipts, 75% of total exports and 25% of GDP. In 2005, the Congolese government reported USD 27m tax receipts from the mining sector (2.4% of total fiscal receipts). Furthermore the sector contributed 0.24% of GDP.DRC is an often cited example of the so-called "paradox of plenty." Extremely rich in natural resources (80% of world wide resources of Coltan, 10% of world wide resources of copper), the population suffers of extreme poverty (80% of the Congolese population lives of less than US$ 0.20 a day). Status of EITI ImplementationAt its meeting in Amsterdam on 9 July 2011, the Board considered the request from the Democratic Republic of Congo for a secretariat review. In accordance with the Board decision on 13 December 2010 and the transitional arrangements adopted by the Board on 9 June 2011, the Board agreed that having failed to meet the deadline for corrective actions of 12 June 2011, the Democratic Republic of Congo was not eligible for a secretariat review. In accordance with the transition procedures for the 2011 edition of the EITI Rules, the Board agreed to renew the Democratic Republic of Congo’s EITI Candidate status for 18 months (until 1 March 2013), by which time the Democratic Republic of 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 designated The Democratic Republic of the Congo, as an EITI Candidate country that is “Close to Compliant”. The Democratic Republic of the Congo was granted six months (until 12 June 2011) to complete the remedial actions needed to achieve compliance.The Democratic Republic of the Congo was accepted as an EITI Candidate Country at the Board meeting in Accra 22 February 2008. After some initial difficulties following the national elections in March 2007, the EITI implementation process in the DRC gained momentum. Due to the commitment of all local stakeholders, some major tasks have been accomplished:The first EITI Report was approved by the Executive Committee on 14 January 2010; On 9 September 2010, the Executive Committe submitted its final Validation Report to the Board. Governance of EITI implementation EITI is governed by a multi-stakeholder committee, Comité executif. The day-to-day implementation of the work programme is ensured by a permanent secretariat (Secrétariat technique). Mr Olivier Kamitatu, Minister of Plan, leads the EITI multi-stakeholder group. Professor Jeremy Mack Dumba serves as the interim National Coordinator for EITI-DRC. EITI Focal Point Professor Jeremy Mack DumbaInterim National CoordinatorE-mail: mack [dot] dumba [at] itierdc [dot] org, Tel. 00243 99 0471666 Companies operating* Oil & gas companies: Chevron Corp*, TOTAL*, Eni*, Inpex (Japan), Perenco, Tullow Oil, Heritage Oil Mining companies: Anglo American*, AngloGold Ashanti*, DeBeers*, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold *, Gold Fields*, Katanga Mining Ltd*, First Quantum Minerals, Moto Gold Mines, Mwana Africa plc, Metorex Ltd, Glencore International, Central African Mining and Exploration (Camec).* EITI Supporting Company * Note: Company list based on EITI research and is not conclusive Further information about the status of EITI implementation in DRC can be provided by Policy Adviser Tim Bittiger at the EITI International Secretariat.

EITI Newsletter July 2010: Unprecedented activity in EITI countries

As we approach half-way through 2010, it is proving to be as momentous for the EITI as expected. Although most of the 22 first EITI countries did not complete the validation of their EITI processes by their deadlines, eyes are now turned towards those granted short extensions to complete by September. Countries’ efforts to meet the deadlines have led to an unprecedented level of activity to improve transparency in the extractives sector. In the past 12 months, 18 countries have produced EITI Reports. File:  EITI-Newsletter-2010-July.pdf