Studies and Economic Media Center (SEMC) and Yemen Parliamentarians Against Corruption (YemenPAC), in cooperation U.S Department Of State inaugurated the project enhancing the transparency in the extractive industries during a workshop to discuss studies about the transparency the revenues , the expenditures of the revenues and the environmental impact of the extractive industries in Yemen.
Studies and Economic Media Center (SEMC) and Yemen Parliamentarians Against Corruption (YemenPAC), in cooperation U.S Department Of State
inaugurated the project enhancing the transparency in the extractive industries during a workshop to discuss studies about the transparency the revenues , the expenditures of the revenues and the environmental impact of the extractive industries in Yemen.
Mr. Mustafa Nasr, the chairman of Studies & Economic Media Center (SEMC)
,Stated that the project aimed to enhance the transparency in the revenues that comes from extractive industries by knowing , tracking and publishing these information to public.
Mr. Nasr said that Yemen lose at least $ 50 billion over 25 years due to the corruption in the oil and gas through all phases of exploration , production, and export.
For his part, Mr. Abdulmoez Dabwan ,the Executive Director of Yemen Parliamentarians Against Corruption(YemenPAC) , said that the project will enable the actors in the society such as parliamentarians, civil society organizations and media persons to access to the information related to oil and gas and share it with them to know if these revenues spend in the way that serves the society.
Mr. Dabwan added that the project aimed to reform the legislative system relevant to the transparency in the extractive industries ,especially in oil, gas and the contracts of exploration , production and export.
Ms. Nor Baabbad ,The head of civil society sector in Supreme National Authority for combating corruption, pointed out to the importance of the idea of the partnership between SEMC and YemenPAC in enhancing transparency in the extractive industries. Ms. Baabbad confirmed on the need to let the political leader know the size of corruption in the extractive industries such as the cost of oil or the other side of corruption.
Ms. Baabbad described the studies prepared by the team of experts within the project as a historical, economical, and oil book, and it is honorable output of the partnership between civil society in this field.
Mr. Mohammed al-Najjar, the Secretary General of the Yemeni Council for Transparency , revealed many aspects of corruption in the extractive industries sector such as the differences in counters to calculate exported oil, fees of mining and minerals sectors that have not paid yet.
Mr. Mohammed al-Najjar pointed out to the weakness of national will in enhancing transparency in the extractive industries locally. Mr. Al-Najjar added that the Yemeni Council for transparency struggling for survival since its establishment and keeps the presence of Yemen in the EITI.
Mr. Abdubari Dughaish, chairman of YemenPAC, confirmed on the importance to reflect the revenues of oil and gas on the people’s life and improve their livelihood. Mr. Abdubari Dughaish pointed out that extractive industries turned out to be a curse of resources on the Yemeni people. Mr. Dughaish added “If the good of the revenues of oil to people , at least the harms don’t reach them’. He also, pointed out to the importance to the project that concern on the main resource in the country.
The workshop reviewed studies on the revenues of oil and gas, the mechanism spending these revenues on various sectors and aspects of corruption surrounding the extractive industries in Yemen. These studies prepared by researchers and specialists ,and considered the first of its kind in Yemen.
The workshop was attended by many experts and stockholders and they confirmed on the important reviewing and auditing these studies because it considered the first of its kind in Yemen. And the situation in Yemen need such studies, especially the extractive is still a fortified castle with secrecy and corruption.
The project enhancing the transparency in extractive industries in Yemen is implemented by Studies & Economic Media Center(SEMC) and Yemen Parliamentarians Against Corruption (YemenPAC) in cooperation with U.S Department of State. This project will be implemented during two years and included preparing studies , expose the information of the extractive in Yemen and share it with public. also, the project aimed to build the capacity of media professionals and civil society to monitor extractive industries and reform the legislative system of the extractive industries in Yemen.
4-9-2014
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