ACCOUNTABLE MINING

Colombia is a country with a high potential in mineral resources; for decades, this has contributed to the national economy and to the regions where these resources are found. This potential includes critical minerals for the energy transition (copper, lithium, nickel, among others). However, for all the benefits accrued from revenue and jobs, there are also disadvantages, and this fuels ongoing tension, and community concern and debate.

Transparencia por Colombia, Colombia’s local Transparency International, has published this research to provide valuable analysis on the potential corruption risks that may affect the decision-making process in relation to the hydrocarbon sector. This research provides important warnings about weaknesses in this process, especially for hiring, licensing and production.

This research analyses corruption from a risk approach and takes into account the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Value Chain. Which focuses on the promotion of open and responsible management of non-renewable resources, in particular public information related to contracts in the exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons and minerals, production volumes, significant payments generated by the industry and distribution in the national budget and its execution. This study covers two of the links in said chain, but with a detailed focus on the hydrocarbon sector: 1) contracting and licensing and; 2) production.

Transparencia por Colombia is part of the first cohort of 20 Transparency International Chapters involved in TI’s global programme to improve transparency in the process of awarding mining permits.

This global programme seeks to improve transparency and accountability in the extractive industries, focusing specifically on the very first link in the mining value chain: the decisions by government to grant mining or exploration permits and licenses and negotiate contracts.