EITI confirms ExxonMobil to board; industry watchdogs outraged.
DAKAR – Civil society protests stalled confirmation of a new EITI Board in Dakar, forcing companies to reach an agreement with civil society. Civil society agreed to confirm the new Board if companies agreed to require ExxonMobil to publish its project-level payments-to-governments data in all countries of operation in a short, fixed period, in line with the EITI Company Expectations. If ExxonMobil is unwilling to meet the EITI’s disclosure requirements, the Board should agree on a mechanism for Exxon’s removal.
Publish What You Pay US Director Carly Oboth released the following statement:
“ExxonMobil’s voice on the Board will further erode the EITI’s mission, jeopardize its integrity, and provide the oil industry with a dangerous opportunity to further undermine the organization’s deeply important work. While all other proposed Board members disclose their project-level payments to governments in all countries of operation, ExxonMobil continues to withhold this data.
ExxonMobil’s commitment to secrecy has no place leading an organization committed to transparency. ExxonMobil’s audacity should not be rewarded with EITI complacency.”