To promote transparency and accountability in payments and process of mining, the Solomon Islands Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (SI-EITI), Ministry of Finance and Treasury is conducting reporting and reconciliation of payments paid and received from mining companies in Solomon Islands.

The report for 2016 and 2017 shall be released in October 2018 as the work is in- progress with data collection from relevant Government ministries, agencies and the mining companies.

Vincent Obimae, Head of Solomon Islands EITI said data from the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification, Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration,  Ministry of Finance and Treasury(IRD and Customs)  and Government agencies like Central Bank of Solomon Islands, National Provident Funds and Provincial Governments including resources owners  shall be captured and analyse for reporting.

Mr. Obimae said on other hand, 21 mining companies with prospecting licences and mining leases will be participate on this reporting.

He explained in the past reporting, the Solomon Islands is hard hampered by data accessibility and credibility which result to SI EITI reports being uncomprehensive. This is due to mining companies’ incompliance to dateline for providing data for EITI

In letter to the reporting entities, Mr. Mckinnie P Dentana, Solomon Islands EITI National Coordinator informed reporting entities of the data collection visit by the SI EIT Officer and asked for strong commitment and cooperation.

Mr. McKinnie reminded all reporting entities of the Government commitment to transparency and accountability and EITI is an international recognised standard for reporting mining payment and revenues pursue by the Government through the Ministry of Finance and Treasury.

“As you aware, Solomon Islands has been publishing EITI Reports since 2014. The Reports already published includes for 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 fiscal year. This year (2018) the Solomon Islands EITI (SIEITI) National Secretariat Office, is working to publish the EITI Reconciliation Report for 2016 and 2017 fiscal year thus I strongly remind you of this national commitment led by the Government”, said Mckinnie.