Wireline Issue 46 - Autumn 2019

Its next milestone achievement will be validation against the EITI Standard. The process was carried out by the EITI International Secretariat during 2018 and is intended to provide all stakeholders with an impartial assessment of whether EITI implementation in the UK is consistent with the provisions of the standard. The validation committee will submit its final report to the EITI Board for discussion and a final decision is expected in late autumn 2019. The UK MSG plans to publish its fifth UK EITI report in December 2019, followed by the planned launch of a standalone UK EITI website in spring 2020. The report will include data on extractive industries payments to and repayments by UK government agencies in 2018, as well as background information on the UK extractives sector and the EITI itself. Sixty-two companies were included in the EITI reconciliation process for 2017, with 97% of the total in-scope payments reported by UK government agencies being reconciled. As awareness of the EITI standard increases, this may well grow further in the coming years. Companies interested in participating in the EITI should contact Michael Nash at michael.nash@beis. gov.uk, or visit www.eiti.org for more information.

Participation in EITI helps maintain momentum in the drive for more transparency worldwide, vital in tackling international corruption and economic crime.

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