Commended for implementing standands

Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) head of national secretariat Lucas Alkan has commended the efforts of the Multi-Stakeholder Group (MSG) to implement EITI standard in the past six years.
However, Alkan called on the group to use EITI’s full potential to improve governance in the sector.
He told the Covid-19 MSG constituent briefing that PNG’s implementation of the global EITI standard had gained favourable results with the overwhelming support from the PNG Multi-Stakeholder Group.
He said there was still room to improve governance in the mining and petroleum sector.
“Our decision to sign up to implement the EITI had opened the door for citizens to question the government and industry on how past and current mining, oil and gas deals are best tailored to contribute to implementing the Government’s development plans and agendas,” Alkan said. PNG joined 53 mineral-wealthy countries in 2013.
It is working on mainstreaming international EITI principles and requirements.
“Citizens have become sceptical that the extraction of these rich mineral wealth would translate into tangible service delivery, funding education and health programmes, invested in rundown infrastructures and so forth for a better future for all,” Alkan said.