This Anti-Corruption Helpdesk brief was produced in response to a query from a U4 Partner Agency. The U4 Helpdesk is operated by Transparency International in collaboration with the U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre based at the Chr. Michelsen Institute.
Query
What has been the experience of corruption in local content, particularly in oil and gas? Are there any practices or approaches on how anti-corruption has been integrated into local content programmes?
Purpose
Contribute to the agency’s work in this area.
Content
- Introduction to local content in the oil and gas sector
- Corruption risks in local content policy in the oil and gas industry
- Anti-corruption mechanisms adopted in local content in the oil and gas sector
- References
Summary
Local content policies in the oil and gas sector aim to encourage the participation and development of domestic industries and labour, as well as to support the transferring of technology and capital. Local content rules are seen as a promising way of promoting social and economic development in resource-rich countries.
However, if not implemented carefully and if not subject to public oversight, local content can also be prone to corruption. Politicians and public officials may abuse their power and influence to use local content requirements to benefit their allies and/or family members, and international companies may pay bribes and kickbacks to local companies to serve as the “front” in bidding processes in order to gain access to oil agreements, among other irregularities
Preventing and curbing corruption in local content requires a set of measures aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability in the public administration, including rules on conflicts of interest, asset declaration, public access to information, as well as strong oversight mechanisms. More generally, to prevent corruption, some of the countries requiring local content in the oil and gas industry have included anti-corruption clauses in their licensing agreements, published contracts and implementation monitoring reports online, committed to disclose beneficial ownership and established clear rules on public procurement.
Authors
Maira Martini, Transparency International, [email protected]Reviewers
Marie Chêne, Transparency International, [email protected] Fagan, Transparency International, [email protected]Date
16/12/2014
