I posted early June this..........
Just read this and consider that the application for the mining license was lodged 17/5/2021, that is 22 days ago and you can work out the facts yourself:
The timeline for obtaining an exploration or exploitation permit is as follows.
The Mining Cadastre has 20 working days to examine the request and to make a decision (Article 40).
Following this, the Directorate of Mines must conduct a technical investigation. The office in charge of the protection of the environment examines the environmental impact study and the environment management plan.
These reviews must be conducted within a period of time set forth in the Mining Code for each type of request (typically, for exploitation permits, within 30 working days for the Mining Cadastre, 60 working days for the Mining Directorate and 180 working days for the environmental investigation).
Should any of the aforementioned authorities fail to reach a decision within the required time frame imposed by the Mining Code, the mining permit will be considered granted.
When a favourable decision is made, the Mining Cadastre will then grant the mining permit to the applicant, provided that the relevant surface rights have been paid for within 30 business days.
All mining rights are conveyable under the Mining Code. A specific right of amodiation (comparable to a long lease agreement) also entitles the holder of an exploitation permit to transfer all or part of such rights under a rental scheme. Exploitation permits can also be mortgaged.
Finally, while mining rights are valid only for specified mineral substances, permits can be extended to additional minerals through specific procedures.
So better don't expect a mining license too soon, however it appears everybody included the DRC government wants to see Manono up and going, but the DRC has to be able to work its normal processes.
It would not look good for AVZ, if this process can be seen as hurried too fast.
However, taken the above in consideration, a Mining License granted before end of June would be very quick (maybe too quick).
Just be realistic.
Which, in my opinion, means unless the DRC law changes, obtaining a Mining License, in the DRC, takes maximum 270 days (say 9 months, or 17/2/22 in AVZ's case) after which the ML will be automatically approved.
It states, that after approval, the applicant has 30 days to pay the relevant surface rights before the ML is granted, which could mean mid March next year at the latest.
However if the process of granting a mining license becomes too long, people might think twice before investing in a country. I would say Felix T. is well aware of that.
I based my investment decision on the above, amongst other things, not on noise generated by a lot of people (including NF) for all sorts of self serving reasons.
The DRC government can do whatever they wish, it is their country and their rules.
Also Australia changes its rules within the blink of an eye, without even having to go through parliament, if they deem that necessary, AVZ experienced that the hard way.
It comes down to DYOR.
So when will AVZ get its ML?
To be honest I have to consult my tea leaves to answer that question, I don't have a TD.
But it should be very clear, without a ML, AVZ can only do so much.
However, what I find amazing is that people, on Hotcopper, are pointing the finger at NF, because AVZ hasn't got its ML yet.
NF can jump high and low, but NF can not change the DRC process.
It is not smart for NF to jump too much high and low, otherwise he will have to wait the full 9 months.
That is if the DRC doesn't change its rules.
And this is of course IMO.
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