EITI: A&V was not part of reporting system

According to TT EITI Steering Committee chairman Victor Hart, this was the reason why TTEITI reports did not expose the alleged production volumes and payment discrepancies which are central to the fake oil scandal, involving the A&V and State oil company Petrotrin .

Hart said this does not mean that the EITI reporting system failed with respect to the fake oil scandal. He said what this underscores is the importance for the reporting requirements of all energy companies to proposed EITI legislation, be mandatory .

Hart explained that because EITI is a voluntary initiative, “companies cannot be forced to participate.” Hart also said problems regarding the accuracy of production figures provided by the Energy Ministry had surfaced during the tenure of the former People’s Partnership (PP) government .

He said these problems were brought to the PP’s attention and assurances were given that they would be corrected .

He disclosed that this year, TTEITI met on two occasions with all of Petrotrin’s Lease and Farm Out Operators (LOFOs), including A&V..