Search

The Ministry of Mining is the authority responsible for national mining policy. The SEREMIs (Regional Ministerial Secretariats) represent the central government in all of the country's various regions. For implementing its mining policy the Ministry relies on two technical advisory bodies: the National Geology and Mining Service (SERNAGEOMIN) and the Chilean Copper Commission (COCHILCO). SERNAGEOMIN assists the Government and the courts in regulating and supervising mining safety and sustainability and in granting mining concessions, in addition to drawing up the Geological Map of Chile and keeping the mining concession and mining land registers. COCHILCO advises the Government on the formulation, implementation and monitoring of policies for the sustainable development of the mining sector, supervises CODELCO and ENAMI, advises the Ministers for Mining and Finance on the budgets of these enterprises, without prejudice to its subsequent audit, and evaluates their investment projects jointly with the Ministry of Social Development in accordance with the respective laws , monitors compliance with the regulations on the marketing of copper and its byproducts and other mineral substances, and provides technical advice to State bodies such as the Foreign Investment Committee with regard to mining investment contracts and the Internal Revenue Service with regard to financial results, the analysis of records for determining taxable income and the specific tax on producers.

However, some mining projects have been suspended, such as the Conga gold mine in Cajamarca, the largest in the country and valued at almost US$5 billion, owing among other things to public opposition, prompted by fears of the environmental impact of the project on the region.

The EAC Treaty calls for the harmonization of countries' mining regulations, in order to ensure environmentally-friendly and sound mining practices. (...)

The Mines and Minerals Act No. 4 of 2011 makes a distinction between large-scale and small-scale mining operations. Small-scale operations may be granted prospecting and mining permits; they are reserved for Swazi citizens and body corporates which are majority-owned by citizens of Swaziland. Small-scale operations are required to exploit the minerals in an economically and environmentally sustainable manner.

The Framework Agreement for the Integral Sustainability of Small-Scale Mining, signed in August 2005 by the Ministries of Mining and the Economy, together with other public and private entities, aims inter alia at improving the environmental conditions of the productive processes.

All applications for an exploitation permit must be accompanied by an environmental impact assessment. (...)

Gold production started in 2007. Together with copper, gold mining represents about 2.6% of GDP (2016). The main producer, Tasiast, is wholly owned by a Canada based company, Kinross. It operates gold mines some 300 km north of Nouakchott under a mining agreement with the Mauritanian State. (...) The Tasiast gold mine reportedly presents serious environmental and social dangers, in particular from cyanide pollution, air pollution, (...)

Small scale gold mining is important, but anarchical, although in principle the authorized areas are regulated. This informal mining provides a livelihood for around 50,000 people working under conditions of serious pollution and risk. (...)

Mining rights are linked to a particular area but holders of mining rights have the responsibility, among others, to protect the environment in accordance with the Environment Code

Development of the mining sector was identified as a fundamental pillar for the promotion of sustainable economic growth in the Agenda for Prosperity. The Government's main priorities in the sector are to ensure that mineral resources support economic and social development in a sustainable manner, and to increase transparency and accountability. In line with these priorities, it adopted a new Mines and Minerals Act in 2009. The Act established the Minerals Advisory Board to monitor the implementation of minerals-related polices, advise and make recommendations to the authorities, and formulate recommendations on minerals-related policies. The Board comprises representatives from the Ministry, local governments, the mining industry, and civil society.