Mine ministry giving licence to ensure transparency

MINING Minister Johnson Tuke delivered mining licences to several exploration and mining companies recently to ensure transparency and accountability in the industry.
Tuke said this would be done on a bi-monthly basis in line with the meetings of the mining advisory council (MAC) throughout 2019.
He said this would immediately remove delays in the administration system and ensure companies carried out their social obligations.
“We have decided to change the culture of issuing licences to the one you’ve been using over the years.
“This is an idea I introduced to the MAC because of what I was hearing from the industry and the Government.”
He said the introduction of such a bi-monthly ceremony would assist the Mineral Resources Authority, the Department of Mineral Policy and Geo-Hazards Management and his office to better manage the licence issuance system.
Tuke said it would avoid current problems faced like timely issuing of licences to companies. “We are all equal partners in the mining industry. I don’t have any level of classifications when it comes to dealing with companies because I see all companies as uniform, equal in the sense that w2the nature of your business is all to do with mining,” he said.
“I want to give prominence to this little paper (license). This is the paper that gives you the permission. This is the paper that gives you all the right either to go up and elevate yourself to economic value or not.”
Tuke said in the past, less prominence was given to the licences as they were either sent by email or posted via courier mail.
Third parties were allowed to pick up and deliver such documents.
He said personal interaction with companies applying for licences would ensure compliance and better communication.