Agency expands scope to ‘practice’

THE participation of the Papua New Guinea Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (PNGEITI) in a recent project agreement review has allowed it to advance its current scope from policy to practice.
Participating in the review of Woodlark Mining project memorandum of agreement (MoA) in Alotau, Milne Bay, national secretariat head Lucas Alkan said PNGEITI’s participation ensured that its provisions were included in the agreement.
This was to ensure contract transparency or disclosure of contracts that has now become mandatory for all EITI implementing countries including PNG.
Alkan said this was part of its efforts to mainstream the EITI standard and requirements on national and sub-national payments.
This included beneficial ownership, and contract transparency reporting.
The secretariat has been undertaking joint workshops, presentations and information sessions with its multi-stakeholder group (MSG) that comprises representatives from the government, extractive industry and the civil society groups.
“The state team included an EITI reporting clause in the agreement. This is actually the second project MOA after the K92 project (in Kainantu, Eastern Highlands) to have an EITI reporting clause included,” he said.
“The PNGEITI aims to cover all mining projects in the country to capture national and subnational reporting requirements.”
The forum discussed various undertakings by the MOA parties, of which some of the issues raised.