March 2009, Open Society Institute of Southern Africa, Third World Network Africa, Tax Justice Network Africa, Action Aid International, Christian Aid
This report has been compiled by a group of African and international civil society organisations concerned about the lack of transparency in mining contracts, as well as the revenue that national budgets forego because of excessive mining tax concessions as well as multinational mining companies avoiding and evading tax.
This report will argue that transparent and balanced mining tax regimes, as opposed to secret tax deals with individual companies, are the best way to avoid corruption and assure citizens and investors that the rents from mining are being shared fairly. it will also argue that states should stop subsiding industrial mining activity through lowering taxes, unless such subsidies are part of a carefully considered industrial plan and outweigh the costs of mining to communities and the environment.
