(DAILY MAIL) Re-apply for mining rights – State

Re-apply for mining rights – State
By CYNTHIA MWALE

THE Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development has called on all firms whose mining and non-mining rights were granted under the repealed Mines and Mineral Development Act of 2008 to apply for new licences.

Minister for Mine and Minerals Development, Maxwell Mwale, said in an interview yesterday that under the new Act passed last year, the maximum area of prospecting by an individual prospector was 10,000 square kilometres.

Mr Mwale said if an area was above the stipulated 10,000 square kilometres, the prospector needed to apply for another licence.

“For instance, if under one firm, you have 50,000 square kilometres, that firm needs to apply for five different licences,” he said.

A notice on the transition period obtained by the Daily Mail yesterday states that the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development Act Number Seven of 2008, which was effected on April 1, 2008 required that a holder of a mining right or a non-mining right shall within a period of one year from the commencement of the Act, apply for a mining right or non-mining right.

It indicates that all mining rights holders have to apply for new licences and permits.