Experiences with EITI in Norway

The Institute for Budgetary and Socio-Economic Research (IBSER)

Guro Slettemark

Transparency International Norwaywww.transparency.no

EITI: The Norwegian experience• The international EITI secretariat moved to Oslo in

2007• Norway became EITI candidate in 2009• First EITI report delivered in 2009• The country has been compliant since 2011

• Norwegian CSOs and PWYP and TI Norway in particular promoted the issue vis-a-vis the Norwegian Government. EITI for Norway was not just a matter of principle. It was a genuine call for transparency in the oil- and gas industry

Norway approved member of EITI in 2011

• Natural resources such as oil, gas and minerals are of great importance for economic and social development in a country. Transparency and control of financial flows between industry and government are essential to achieve this. The EITI is an initiative that will contribute to transparency. By implementing the EITI at home, we want to encourage resource-rich countries to transparency of financial flows, said Minister of Petroleum and Energy Terje Riis-Johansen

• As the first OECD country, Norway has been approved as a full member of the EITI. This makes Norway a frontrunner in the efforts to achieve greater transparency.

The Norwegian MSG

* Government: Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, Ministry of Finance,

* Companies: Statoil, ExxonMobil

* Civil Society Organizations: Norwegian Oil and Gas Association,The Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions, KFUM-KFUK, Publish What You Pay, TI Norway,

Seven EITI reports by 2016

Reports

Innovations

• Disaggregated reporting by company and revenue stream.

• Comparison with other sources (Norwegian state accounts).

• EITI regulation under Petroleum law that mandates EITI reporting and setting timeline.

• The EITI Reports are produced by the reconciler using the International Standard on Related Services (ISRS) 4400: "Engagements to Perform Agreed-upon Procedures Regarding Financial Information".

• Making the EITI data available in an Excel file and on the government data transparency portal.

• The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy issues a publication about the Norwegian petroleum sector every year. It is also available as an app for smartphones and tablets.

MSG deliberations• Oil and gas – but what about mining?

• The latest report reflects the new EITI Standards. However, the following reporting requirements in the new EITI standards are not included

- revenue management and expenditure

- transportation payments

- ad-hoc subnational transfers

- beneficial ownership

One-stop-shop for information

Way forward• The MSG has discussed the benefits of continuing the

current EITI-reporting since the information is publicly available without the EITI report. The report has limited value for the Norwegian public, but may have some value as a reference for stakeholder groups in other EITI implementing countries.

• The MSG will continue to discuss the best way to meet and implement the new EITI standards in Norway

Thank you!

www.transparency.no