
The Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy has cancelled operating licenses of 25 mining companies for their failure to observer the country’s mining rules and guidelines.
“It is a situation where you have to follow certain basic rules under the law. When you obtain a license, you have to demonstrate that you have the technical and financial capacity. Some companies have not being able to demonstrate that,” Lands and Mines Minister Patrick Sendolo told journalists Thursday in an interview at the Information Ministry.
He said the action was taken in order to ensure government’s determination to enforce rules and regulations governing the mining sector.
“Part of the regulation is that you have to file a work program about the things you want to do on that particular claim within a certain time frame. A lot of companies that we are talking about haven’t done that.
You have to pay fees, and a lot of companies are default with respect to that provision,” Mr. Sendolo explained.
He said the names of all the companies involved would be published to serve as deterrent to be would-be violators.