The Ministry of Mines and Geology makes it quite clear what the...

The Ministry of Mines and Geology makes it quite clear what the requirements are for an application for an Exploitation Permit.

An application for an Industrial or Semi-industrialMining Operation Permit must be accompanied bysupporting documentation, the details of which are setout in the mining regulations and must include, interalia, each of the following:

• a copy of the valid Exploration Permit andproof of payment of all taxes and royalties due;

• the report on the exploration results regardingthe nature, quality, volume and geographic location ofthe mineral resource identified;

• a plan in respect of the first or secondsurrender, as applicable, accompanied by the results ofthe exploration work and corresponding to half of theprevious area;

• a feasibility study including a plan for thedevelopment and operation of the Deposit, including,

. Detailed Environmental and Social ImpactStudy accompanied by a Social and EnvironmentalManagement Plan including an Emergency Plan,; a RiskManagement Plan,; a Hygiene, Health and Safety Plan,;a Rehabilitation Plan,; a Resettlement Plan for thePopulation affected by the project and the measures tomitigate negative impacts and optimize positive impacts;

. an economic and financial analysis of theproject and the plan for obtaining the requisite Permitsand authorisations;

a plan for supporting Guinean companies increating and/or reinforcing the capacities of SMEs/SMIsor companies owned or controlled by Guinean nationalsfor the provision of goods and services generally usedfor their activities, as well as a plan to promote theemployment of Guinean nationals, the minimum numberof whom must conform to the quotas set out in thisCode;

• a detailed schedule of the work to be done;

• a community development plan annexed to theLocal Development Agreement covering among others,aspects of training, medical, social, educational, roads,water supply, and electricity infrastructures (the LocalDevelopment Agreement will be signed upon delivery ofthe Title); and

• an architectural plan of the company’sheadquarters with an application for land allocationmade to the competent Administration (the head officemust be constructed within a maximum period of threeyears from the date an Operating Permit for iron ore,bauxite, gold and diamond is granted).


So its a lot lot more than a scoping study. Very few jurisdictions in the world would issue an Exploitation Permit on the basis of a scoping study.

On the plus side - since we can now prove we are actually doing all the appropriate work, it means we have a lot more wriggle room time wise on finalising the application.