Search

Under the Poverty Reduction Strategy and Action Plan (PRSAP), a key goal is to have access to affordable, safe, sustainable, secure and environmentally friendly sources of energy by 2010 through, among others, establishing community woodlots and encouraging forestation and reforestation on available land; diversifying energy sources in a cost effective manner, moving towards sustainable energy sources; encouraging efficient use of energy; and legislating against the indiscriminate harvesting of wood resources for commercial gain.

First Quantum Minerals is implementing a project to process waste from Musonoi at Kolwezi and plans to produce 360,000 tonnes of cobalt over a period of 50 years, or 5,900 tonnes annually

The legal framework for the energy sector is set out in the Energy Law of 1997, as amended, and the Law on Energy Saving and Renewable Energy of 2004

Waivers of the provisions of the Jones Act have been granted in response to the oil spill clean up arising from the Deepwater Horizon incident in the Gulf of Mexico

In volume terms, production of coal, iron ore, and petroleum have increased rapidly over the past decade while gold has declined (Table 4.7). In the future, copper production should increase quickly as commercial production at Oyu Tolgoi started in 2013. Various reports indicate that the decline in gold production may be less than official statistics indicate; illegal mining, which avoids royalties and environmental laws, has increased although the State has been making efforts to improve regulation of the sub sector.

Amongst the most important contributions, QNV (Qatar National Vision 2030) includes a general framework from which more detailed strategies and operational plans can be prepared. The vision thus contained aims to transform Qatar into a diversified, well-established and well-developed nation by 2030. Ultimately, Qatar is expected to be able to sustain its own development drive whilst providing a high standard of living for generations to come. The vision includes five major challenges that Qatar must balance:
(…)
• The needs of this generation and the needs of future generations.
• Manageable growth and controllable expansion.
• The size and the quality of the expatriate labour force and the selected path of development.
• Economic growth, social development and environmental management.

The Plant Protection Section, which is the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) of Barbados, encompasses Entomology, Plant Pathology, Pesticide Control Board, and the Plant Quarantine Unit. Its functions are to protect, and where possible, enhance the agricultural crop resources of the island through the provision of research, developmental, regulatory and extension services in the area of pest and disease management as well as to assist in the implementation of the National Strategic Plan of Barbados 2006-25. The Plan emphasizes certain priority crops: cotton, sugar, hot pepper, herbs and spices, sweet potatoes, yams and onions. The mandate of Plant Protection is the phytosanitary security and conservation of Barbados’ agricultural plant biodiversity through the identification of plant pests and diseases and the provision of environmentally sound control practices. The authorities have noted that this mandate must be fulfilled whilst satisfying domestic, regional (CARICOM), hemispheric (EU-CARIFORUM EPA) and international (WTO/SPS) standards. Plant Protection is also involved in ensuring food security, and in guaranteeing that good agricultural practices and food safety (HACCP policy) policies are adhered to. Plant Protection has set as its goals: the preparation of a country pest list, conducting pest risk analyses and surveillance for economically important pests and diseases; promoting integrated pest management; ensuring availability of safe and quality pesticides for protecting crop production from the ravages of pests and diseases; and testing bio-pesticides and other chemicals generally regarded as safe (GRAS).

As of 18 July 2011, the BPT (Business profit tax), inter alia, replaced the foreign investment royalty regime that discriminated against foreign investors (section 3.4.2). Furthermore, Article 15(b) of the legislation establishing the tax allows for total exemption for foreign investors for a certain period provided that the investment is in priority sectors promoted by the Government (e.g. public private partnership (PPP) and renewable energy), covered by an FIA (foreign investment agreement) citing the exemption term, or in the context of SEZs (section 3.4.2.3 and Table 3.4).

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Production, Fisheries and Rural Development (MAFFRD) conducts several support programmes and services, such as: the Crop Production and Development Programme and the Coconut Revitalization Programme, geared at producing quality crops; the Livestock Production Programme, aimed at partially satisfying the protein requirements of the population; the Agricultural Health and Surveillance Programme, geared at preventing the entry of harmful pest and diseases; the Land and Water Management Programme, aimed at conserving the land and water base for sustainable agricultural production; and the Agro-Industry Development Programme, geared at facilitating the domestic production of processed agricultural commodities. Considerable support is being provided to banana producers to accelerate post disaster recovery. The MAFFRD also imports new plant varieties with a view to improving farmers' yields. The authorities have drafted a framework policy for the production and importation of GMOs; Cabinet deliberations on the draft have not commenced yet.

(…) The Fuel Tax Credits Scheme removes the incidence of excise and excise-equivalent customs duties from the costs of some fuels (including diesel) used in business activities, including specified activities in agriculture, fishing, and forestry (sections 3.4.2 and 4.3.2.3).