Exxon, Chevron conceal payments to some govts

Lacking transparency: An Exxon Mobil gas station in San Pablo, California. The company is under fire from activists and lawmakers for greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change. — Bloomberg

WASHINGTON: The United States’ oil majors Exxon Mobil Corp and Chevron Corp have failed to meet a core transparency standard set by the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (Eiti), a global anti-corruption body on which the companies have board seats.

Exxon and Chevron have declined to publicly disclose taxes and other payments they have made to governments in the countries where they operate that are not Eiti members, the group said in a spreadsheet detailing member company adherence to its standards.