The National Energy Policy has been revised in 2008 with the objective to develop the enormous potential in the sector by increasing options and exploitation of the country's indigenous energy resources for sustainable development.
The Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) has been established under the new Mines and Minerals Development Act of 2008 to address environmental liabilities corresponding to the new mining investors as provided for under the Act.
The Government has taken a cautious approach to the issuance of uranium mining licences because of environmental concerns among others, and has accordingly developed new uranium regulations on the basis of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) guidelines on uranium mining, processing, storage, transportation, and trade.
The new Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act of 2008 provides for, inter alia, separate licences for prospecting and for production of oil and gas as well as stronger legal provisions on environmental protection.
Support to Economic Expansion and Diversification (SEED) Programme commenced in 2004 with the objective to improve the business environment for sustainable tourism in the Greater Livingstone area and gemstones sector and to reverse biodiversity erosion in the Kafue National Park and Musi-oa Tunya National Park and its surrounding areas.