Jean-François Lassalle
Vice President, Public Affairs, Exploration & Production; represents Total in the EITI Board. 

What is Total aiming to achieve through the EITI?

By embracing EITI principles from the outset, we have demonstrated clear support for this voluntary initiative. Since 2004, we have been encouraging new countries to implement EITI principles. Internally, we have created a specific E&P process to give operational subsidiaries access to rules of conduct, methods and experience related to financial transparency. Our subsidiaries also have access to the EITI Source Book on the intranet. Our units in Azerbaijan, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon and Congo have been and are involved in past and present disclosure operations in these countries. Last, we provide governments with technical support as they work to develop processes to enhance transparency, while respecting our duty of confidentiality. This not only complies with our ethical principles and practices, but is also in our interest. Better governance should eventually result in greater transparency of governments in host countries, as well as greater economic and political stability, which will guarantee the sustainability of our investment.

How does the Publish What You Pay campaign differ from the EITI?

Although the two processes have different starting points, their objectives are basically the same. The Publish What You Pay campaign wants oil, gas and mining companies to disclose their payments—taxes, bonuses, royalties and other—to host countries, based on the assumption that countries are unwilling to do so themselves. But we believe that governments need to be involved, because they’re the main stakeholders. In addition, the transparency process should also include national companies, whose role is expanding. If only private companies publish, the resultant picture of oil revenues will be incomplete.

In addition, oil contracts are complex, differing from one country to another, and sometimes even within a country. So we think it’s preferable that aggregate data be processed and analyzed by a third party chosen by stakeholders. Last, EITI takes into account the sovereignty of countries by asking that the confidentiality clauses found in almost all oil and gas contracts be waived prior to any disclosure of information.

The EITI is a voluntary initiative for states. But some civil society stakeholders believe that more binding procedures are necessary to ensure genuine progress. There are even fears the initiative will be diverted from its original purpose because there’s no binding obligation. What’s your opinion?
 
That could really happen. That’s why the Core Group’s priorities include defining implementation criteria. But if we move too fast, we might scare off some countries, even though they are starting to acknowledge that their governance leaves something to be desired and that outsiders, via the EITI, can help them make progress. The principle of transparency may be fundamental, but so too is the sovereignty of states, including emerging economies. We can’t lay down the law; what we have to do is to talk to our partners and persuade them of the medium and long-term benefits of the EITI.

How can Total encourage a country to be transparent without infringing its sovereignty?

The main thing we can do is to let host countries who come to us know that we’re ready to help them move forward with EITI implementation. We have the credibility and the expertise needed to provide help throughout the declaration process. We can also support our partners in their dialogue with organizations representing civil society, thereby helping them to comply with one of the five EITI requirements.

How could this initiative change with regard to the various instruments for fighting bribery and corruption in these countries?

EITI is a voluntary initiative to promote good governance, supported by obligations such as international law and the OECD convention on bribery and corruption. As more and more countries support this transparency process and tighten legislation, the ones that don’t will be marginalized.