Reviewed Minines And Minerals Act To Parliament in November

Malawi Government says, the reviewed Mines and Minerals Act will possibly make its way into the National Assembly this year. 

Msaka

Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining, Hon. Bright Msaka says the review and all other processes including consultations have been completed 

He said the reviewed act is part of number of integral initiatives his ministry is implementing that are aimed at reforming the mining sector to sustainably meet the expectations of Malawians.

“The Mines and Minerals Act review is underway, the process of consultation was completed the draft bill is currently with the Ministry of Justice. In our discussion we are hoping that that bill can be before parliament during November meeting of parliament” he said

"Apart from reviewing the Mines and Minerals Act; we are also reviewing the Mining Fiscal regime; Establishing a geo-data management centre in order to increase on line access to geoscientific data at Geological Survey Department. 

We are Establishing a mining cadastre system at Mines Department in order to increase efficiency and transparency in the allocation and management of mineral tenements; we are Building capacity in  the Environmental Affairs Department to monitor environmental issues resulting from mining activities"

Msaka further said government is Reviewing the curriculum in the University especially in mining related programmes in order to produce high quality human resources needed by the mining sector; and that Geological mapping of the country to commence in 2016 with funding from the French Government.

"These initiatives are aimed at reforming the mining sector to sustainably meet the expectations of Malawians." Said Msaka 

It is also envisaged he said "that probably it might be a god idea for the government to establish a company as we had done before. To be having shares in some of the lucrative mining ventures on behalf of people of Malawi. So that people of Malawi are participants of in the share holding of various mineral investments. So there are a lot of work to be done by government. We will continue to work with the industry but more focusing on the benefits that Malawi government as well as people of Malawi can make from our mineral wealth.”

The minister also said as pert of reforms in the sector government will soon join the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) in order to promote transparency in the extractive industry.