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.

On 13 December 2010, the Board had found that the DRC was close to compliant and gave the DRC government and EITI Executive Committee a deadline of 12 June 2011 to complete corrective actions and request a secretariat review. The corrective actions included the publication of the EITI report covering 2008-2009. This deadline was not met.

In taking its decision, the Board commended stakeholders in DRC for the efforts undertaken, especially recognising the specific circumstances of the country. The 2008-09 EITI report has a comprehensive and ambitious scope, intended to cover all material payments and revenues in DRC’s large and complex extractive sector. It is a significant step forward from the report 2007 which had focused on industrial oil and mining production.

For further information about implementation of the EITI in the Democratic Republic of Congo, please contact Regional Director Tim Bittiger at the EITI International Secretariat.

THE EITI BOARD’S DECISION ON DR CONGO

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, including Requirement 5(e) regarding regular and timely reporting. If the Democratic Republic of Congo does not achieve Compliant status by 1 March 2013), it will be de-listed.

It was agreed that the Democratic Republic of Congo’s EITI Executive Committee should agree and publish a new work plan within three months (by 29 November 2011) that addresses the actions needed to achieve Compliance with the 2011 edition of the EITI Rules, including a schedule for a new Validation to be completed by 1 March 2013).