Africa-Press – Angola. The Secretary of State for Oil and Gas, José Barroso, reiterated on Monday in Luanda the Angolan Government’s continued commitment to improving the management of mineral resources, based on the EITI (Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative) standard.
Speaking at the opening of the 11th Ordinary Meeting of the EITI National Coordination Committee, which took place via Zoom, the official called for the mobilization of all stakeholders in this process to promote transparency and accountability in the management of mineral resources in Angola.
He recalled that, since its accession in 2022, the country has already published three reports, referring to the fiscal years 2021, 2022 and 2023, the latter being – approved today – officially the first to observe the rules of the EITI 2023 standard.
The government official recognized that legal limitations and confidentiality clauses still persist that prevent disaggregated disclosure by taxpayer and, consequently, a full reconciliation of payments and receipts.
Among the main constraints, he pointed out article 86 of law no. 21/14 (General Tax Code), no. 4 of article 6 of law no. 13/04 (Petroleum Fiscal Regime) and article 11 of law no. 3/11 (National Statistical System), as well as contractual provisions that restrict the public availability of financial and operational information.
He noted that the approach for the 2023 report maintains the aggregated disclosure of revenues based on the General State Account and a pilot reconciliation involving two entities, namely Sociedade Mineira de Catoca and TotalEnergies, while work is being done to achieve more substantial developments in the next report and awaiting a regulatory reform that will enable full compliance with the EITI standard.
He clarified that the EITI 2023 standard establishes mandatory requirements and expectations to ensure transparency and good governance of the extractive industry, however, there are challenges in matters critical to transparency, which require additional measures to align national implementation with the aforementioned standard.
For the Secretary of State, the launch of the third 3rd EITI-Angola Report represents an important step for the country, as it demonstrates the authorities’ commitment to transparency and responsibility in the management of mineral resources.
The 11th Ordinary Meeting of the EITI National Coordination Committee approved its 3rd report, referring to the 2023 fiscal year.
The EITI was created on June 16, 2003, with the aim of promoting good governance of mineral resources through full disclosure of payments made by companies in the sector and government revenues from the extractive industry.
On the initiative of the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, Angola joined the EITI in June 2022, with the Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, Diamantino Azevedo, assuming the presidency of the National Coordination Committee, through Presidential Decree 117/20.
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