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March 2021 News and Analysis from NRGI

  • News from NRGI

  • 31 March 2021

Highlights

Gender and Extractives

Addressing gender inequality is key to ensuring citizens in resource-rich countries receive lasting benefits – and experience reduced harms – from the extractive industries. On International Women's Day, NRGI launched a gender topic page highlighting NRGI's contributions to the field. Explore the collection, or read a summary in this thread

A Pandemic and a Price Plunge: Oil-Rich Kleptocracies in Uncertain Times
In this essay for the National Endowment for Democracy, NRGI's Alexandra Gillies shares her perspectives on how oil-rich kleptocratic regimes responded to the dual crises of collapsing oil revenue and the coronavirus pandemic.

Raw or Refined: Does Commodity Processing Help Resource-Dependent Countries to Diversify?
Forward economic linkages can impact a country’s level of resource dependence--for better or for worse. In this post, NRGI experts reflect on the findings of a new literature review.

Publications

The East Mediterranean Gas Forum: Regional Cooperation Amid Conflicting Interests
A series of natural gas discoveries over the past decade have brought attention to the Eastern Mediterranean despite complicated prospects for monetization. This briefing provides an overview of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum, its geopolitical dimensions and efforts to assess prospects for profitable gas exploitation (also in Arabic).

Guinea: Updated Assessment of the Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic on the Extractive Sector and Resource Governance
The latest in NRGI's series of country briefings summarizing the evolving situation with respect to the pandemic and its economic impacts (also in French). 

Podcasts

The Climate Question: What Will Happen to Fossil Fuel Workers?

NRGI's Laury Haytayan walks the BBC World Service through political and economic implications of the energy transition in the Middle East and North Africa. Hear her at 12m55s and 18m.

Breaking the Curse? Resource Wealth and Development Strategies in the Wake of Covid-19
NRGI’s David Mihalyi joined the Cambridge Development Podcast to discuss the particular challenges faced by resource-rich countries as a result of the pandemic and climate change.

Blog

Newly Implemented Law Gives Mongolians Visibility Into State Mining Companies
Mongolia has recently improved implementation of its 2014 "Glass Accounts Law," giving civil society actors unprecedented information about who buys from the state's mining enterprises, who the companies’ biggest suppliers are, and the sheer size and variety of state companies.

Upcoming event

National Oil Companies: Climate Change, Economic Challenges and Potential Responses
Join NRGI and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) for the first event in the Climate Change and National Oil Companies series. On 21 April, discussants will spell out key challenges facing national oil companies, their governments and international climate initiatives. Participants will explore the sustainability of companies’ project choices and implications for national economies and international climate goals. Register here.

Videos

Evolving expectations: How state-owned extractive companies are tackling transparency
This Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative webinar explored what citizens and government shareholders should expect from state companies with respect to pandemic recovery plans and the energy transition. NRGI's David Manley spoke about the risks associated with further investments in oil and gas projects. Watch the webinar (also in French and Spanish).

Minerales estratégicos, cadenas de suministro y desafíos de gobernanza en los Andes
NRGI has completed a series of Spanish-language webinars on the governance of critical minerals in Andean countries. All recordings are now available to view

The Future of Sustainable Natural Resource Governance
NRGI and ETH-NADEL hosted a public discussion on the future of sustainable natural resource governance as part of the “Natural Resource Governance and Development: Policies and Practice” advanced course

FAQ: How to Address Bribery and Corruption Risks in Mineral Supply Chains
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has launched a frequently asked questions (FAQ) resource for bribery and corruption risks in mineral supply chains. Register here to watch a related session featuring Alexandra Gillies, or download the report.

Transición energética y rol del gas natural en América Latina y el Perú
Hear NRGI's Claudia Viale discuss natural gas management in Peru in this Spanish-language Facebook Live recording.

NRGI in the news and on the web

Colombia’s Ecopetrol seeks to reduce dependence on oil
Financial Times

How Can Transparency Lead to Real Accountability in the Extractives Sector in Africa
Africa In Fact

Congo : le « lourd fardeau » de la dette due aux traders
Le Point Afrique

Report finds majority of extractive commodity traders lack ESG disclosure
Mining Weekly

Can OPEC Rescue the Planet?
The New Republic

Video: NRGI's Laury Haytayan on the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (20m30s)
Arab News

Is This The World’s Next Big Offshore Oil Region?
Oilprice.com

Reactivación económica: cambios en la letra pequeña de la gran minería
Ojo Publico (Peru)

“What's in It for Us?” An action-research case study of Nigeria's extractive industries
Policy Alert (Nigeria) and Publish What You Pay

3 Tips for African Negotiators Doing Deals with China
The China Africa Project