All mineral rights applications temporarily suspended

The Ministry of Mines and Energy will suspend the consideration and processing of all new applications for mineral rights for nine months as of 18 November 2020 to 17 August 2021. This suspension will only affect prospective or new applications and was necessitated due to the ministry reviewing the requirements and procedures under the Minerals (Prospecting and Mining) Act relating to the application for mineral rights and other provisions not included in the Act. The suspension has been proposed for purposes of efficiency, and to allow the ministry to complete this process within the shortest time possible.

“The purpose of this review is to update and align the application requirements and procedures to best practices and current national policy, streamline the specific fees and provide for an effective procedure within the law given global developments since 1992 ( when the current law was promulgated),” read a statement from the ministry.

The mines ministry has therefore invited the public, the mining industry, and any affected or interested persons to submit written representations and comments within the next seven working days from the date of the statement, which was Friday, 6 November 2020.

All feedback in this regard must be forwarded to the ministry’s public relations Officer at Andreas.Simon@mme.gov. na, alternatively, hand delivered at the Mining Commissioner’s Office, first floor, Ministry of Mines and Energy.

The mining industry and the public will have an opportunity to comment on the draft policy and legal framework for granting new mineral licences as the draft reviewed document will be communicated to the public and availed on the ministry’s website.