The National Coordinator of Congolese Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (ETTI) Jean-Jacques Kayembe said the nation has scored high in its implementation of the 2019 global standard for good governance in oil, gas and mineral resources.
The EITI standards include good governance, clear legal framework and fiscal regimes, and publishing of contracts and revenues.
President Felix Tshisekedi has promised to tackle corruption and opacity in Congo’s mining sector. He also vowed to review and publish deals that did not benefit the country.
Recall that Congo is the world’s largest producer of cobalt and Africa’s leading miner of copper.
Congo has published around 200 contracts and related documents in the last two years, including deals with Chinese companies and Israeli businessman Dan Gertler, who is under U.S. Treasury sanctions.
Kayembe said, “Congo has strongly distinguished itself … on the quality of the public debate around transparency in the extractive industries.
“The country was rated lower on other criteria due to the lack of a register of beneficial owners, delays in setting a mining fund for future generations, and the transparency of sub-national payments of mining royalties.
“Congo stakeholders are still requesting the publication of the latest agreement signed between Dan Gertler and the state on the transfer of certain mining assets.”
