The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development has launched an online system of issuing mineral exploration and mining licenses as part of plans to streamline the mining sector in the country.
According to the ministry Permanent Secretary, Mr. Robert Kasande, they launched an e-cadastre last week that will facilitate the online licensing processes.
A cadastre is a comprehensive land recording of the real estate or real property’s metes-and-bounds of a country.
Mr. Kasande said the online system is meant to do away with the bureaucratic manual process of acquiring mineral rights. Previously, for one to secure an exploration license from the Directorate of Geological Survey and Mines, Entebbe, he or she fills the forms, file them and then seeks endorsement from the Chief Administrative Officer of the district where the intended exploration would be carried out.
“With the e-cadastre, you can apply online. An applicant will click online, get all the documentation that you need, you fill them and submit to get a license as long as you have got all the requirements,” he said.
According to the Mining Act of 2003 and the Mineral regulations of 2004, an applicant is supposed to take one month from the time of application to acquire a license or renewal so long as she or he has the right documentation.
However, the license acquisition period is expected to become shorter with the system.
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A company or an individual seeking to acquire mineral exploration license is supposed to present a valid prospective license, the company’s certificate of incorporation, a map of the desired area that is not more than 500 Square Kilometers, exploration work plan, project brief and evidence of adequate financial competence.
When applying for any of the licenses, an applicant will have to part with application or preparation fee of Shs1m and registration fee of Shs500, 000. Upon acquiring the license, the holder pays Shs50, 000 per Square Kilometer as Mineral rent for one year and Shs300, 000 for gazetting grant.
According to the law, an exploration license expires after three years from the time of issuance and is subject to renewal at the applicant’s wish.
However, Mr. Kasande said the process of application and the amount of money involved is subject to change as the ministry is reviewing all the Mining Law and Regulations.
“We are reviewing our mining law and after that, we shall be able to review the regulations. The issue of money can be a schedule in the law and the regulations that will be reviewing because these are monies that were set sometime back,” he said.
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