Minerals (Prospecting and Mining) Act, 1992

This is the latest version of this Act.

Jurisdiction: Namibia
Citation: Act 33 of 1992
Date: 29 December 2008
Language: English
Type: Legislation
Download: Download PDF (1015.5 KB)

Minerals (Prospecting and Mining) Act, 1992

Act 33 of 1992

Published in Government Gazette no. 564 on 31 December 1992
Assented to on 16 December 1992
Commenced on 1 April 1994 by Government Notice of 1994
[This is the version of this document from 29 December 2008 and includes any amendments published up to 6 October 2022.]

[Amended by Minerals (Prospecting and Mining) Amendment Act, 2008 (Act 8 of 2008) on 29 December 2008]

ACTTo provide for the reconnaissance, prospecting and mining for, and disposal of, and the exercise of control over, minerals in Namibia; and to provide for matters incidental thereto.BE IT ENACTED by the National Assembly of the Republic of Namibia, as follows:

Part I – Introductory provisions

1. Definitions

(1)In this Act unless the context indicates otherwise -“accessory works” means any building, plant or other structure required for purposes of reconnaissance operations, prospecting operations or mining operations or for the disposal of any mineral or group of minerals won or mined in the course of any such operations, or is connected with such operations or disposal, including -(a)any power plant, transmission line or substation;(b)any water borehole, well, pipe-line, drilling rig, pump station, tank or dam;(c)any airfield, helicopter landing-pad, road, gate, rail or railway siding;(d)any workshop, hangar, store or office;(e)any explosives magazine;(f)any sampling plant, processing plant, smelter or refinery whether erected on land or constructed on any vehicle or vessel;(g)any waste disposal site; or(h)any camp site or temporary or permanent residential area;“accredited agent” means a person designated in accordance with the provisions of section 121 as the accredited agent for the holder of a non-exclusive licence, mining claim or mineral licence, as the case may be;“base and rare metals group” means, subject to the provisions of subsection (4), a group of minerals containing the elements specified in Part 1 of Schedule 1;“board” means the Minerals Board of Namibia established by section 9;“claim” means an area of land which has been pegged as a claim in accordance with the provisions of Part VI;“claim area” means the area of land of a mining claim;“Commission” means the Minerals Ancillary Rights Commission established by section 108;“Commissioner” means the Mining Commissioner appointed under section 4(1);“company” means -(a)a company as defined in section 1 of the Companies Act 1973 (Act 61 of 1973), including an external company as so defined to which a certificate of registration has been issued in terms of section 322(2) of that Act; or[The Companies Act 61 of 1973 has been replaced by the Companies Act 28 of 2004.](b)a juristic person established by or under any law in force in Namibia;“controlled mineral” means any mineral specified in the nuclear fuel minerals group, the precious metals group and the precious stones group, and any other mineral declared under subsection (3)(a) to be a controlled mineral;“dimension stone group” means, subject to the provisions of subsection (4), a group of minerals containing rock material specified in Part 2 of Schedule 1;“excavation” means any trench, pit, shaft or other open or underground working made in the course of prospecting operations or mining operations, as the case may be, excluding any superficial excavations made for purposes of geochemical soil and rock sampling;“exclusive prospecting licence” means an exclusive prospecting licence issued under section 70 and includes the renewal of any such licence;“good mining practices”, “good prospecting practices” or “good reconnaissance practices” means any practices which are generally accepted by persons involved in mining operations, prospecting operations or reconnaissance operations, as the case may be, in other countries of the world as good, safe and necessary in carrying out any such operations in relation to a mineral or a group of minerals;“group”, in relation to minerals, means the precious metals group, the base and rare metals group, the precious stones group, the semi-precious stones group, the industrial minerals group, the dimension stone group, the non-nuclear fuel minerals group or the nuclear fuel minerals group;“high value mineral” means an unwrought precious metal and a rough and uncut emerald, ruby or sapphire, and any other mineral declared under subsection (3)(b) to be a high value mineral;“industrial minerals group” means, subject to the provisions of subsection (4), a group of minerals specified in Part 3 of Schedule 1;“land” includes the sea and the seabed within the territorial sea referred to in section 2 of the Territorial Sea and Exclusive Economic Zone of Namibia Act, 1990 (Act 3 of 1990), the exclusive economic zone referred to in section 4 of that Act and the continental shelf referred to in section 6 of that Act, and land beneath any other water, and the subsoil of land;“mine” means -(a)when used as a noun, any place where mining operations are or have been carried on, and includes any excavation or accessory works which is or are necessary for, or incidental to, such mining operations; or(b)when used as a verb, means any operations calculated to win any mineral or group of minerals from a mine or from any ore won from a mine, and includes any operations which are necessary for, or incidental to, such operations, and “mining” shall have a corresponding meaning;“mineral” means any substance, whether in solid, liquid or gaseous form, occurring naturally in, on or under any land and having been formed by, or subjected to, a geological process, excluding -(a)water, not being water taken from land or from the sea for the extraction therefrom of a mineral or a group of minerals;(b)petroleum, as defined in section 1 of the Petroleum (Exploration and Production Act), 1991 (Act 2 of 1991); or(c)subject to the provisions of subsection (2), soil, sand, clay, gravel or stone (other than rock material specified in Part 2 of Schedule 1) if they are bona fide required for purposes of -(i)agriculture, building works, fencing or road making;(ii)the manufacture of bricks and tiles;(iii)the construction of sportsfields, airfields, railways, bridges, dams, reservoirs, weirs, canals or other irrigation works; or(iv)any other purpose defined by the Minister by notice in the Gazette;“mineral agreement” means an agreement entered into in terms of section 49;“mineral deposit retention licence” means a mineral deposit retention licence issued under section 81 and includes the renewal of such licence;“mineral licence” means a reconnaissance licence, an exclusive prospecting licence, a mining licence or a mineral deposit retention licence and includes the renewal of any such licence;“mining area” means the area of land to which a mining licence relates;“mining claim” means a claim registered under section 36 and includes the renewal of the registration of any such claim;“mining licence” means a mining licence issued under section 93 and includes the renewal of any such licence;“mining operations” means any operations carried on in connection with mining;“Minister” means the Minister of Mines and Energy;“non-exclusive prospecting licence” means a non-exclusive prospecting licence issued under section 21 and includes the renewal of any such licence;“non-nuclear fuel minerals group” means, subject to the provisions of subsection (4), a group of minerals specified in Part 4 of Schedule 1;“nuclear fuel minerals group” means, subject to the provisions of subsection (4), a group of minerals specified in Part 5 of Schedule 1;“officer” means an officer or employee as defined in section 1 of the Public Service Act, 1980 (Act 2 of 1980);[The Public Service Act 2 of 1980 has been replaced by the Public Service Act 13 of 1995. Section 38 of Act 13 of 1995 provides that certain expressions relevant to Act 2 of 1980 shall be construed to refer to certain corresponding expressions relevant to Act 13 of 1995, but the terms “officer” and “employee” are not covered.]“owner” means -(a)the person in whose name any private land is registered in the Deeds Registry, and includes -(i)if the owner of such land is deceased, the executor of his or her estate;(ii)if the estate of the owner of such land has been sequestrated, the trustee of his or her estate;(iii)if the owner of such land is a company which has been wound up, the liquidator of such company;(iv)if the owner of such land is under a legal disability, his or her legal representative;(v)if such land has been attached in terms of an order of a court of law, the sheriff or deputy sheriff; or(vi)the person who has been authorized in writing by the owner to act on behalf of such owner for purposes of the provisions of this Act;(b)a lessee of land owned by the State,but does not include the holder of any grazing rights in, on or in respect of any such land;“Permanent Secretary” means the Permanent Secretary: Mines and Energy;“precious metals group” means, subject to the provisions of subsection (4), a group of minerals containing the elements specified in Part 6 of Schedule 1;“precious stones group” means, subject to the provisions of subsection (4), a group of minerals specified in Part 7 of Schedule 1;“private land” means land other than State land, including land leased from the State if the lessee of such land has exercised his or her option to purchase such land;“prospecting” means intentionally searching, whether by way of excavations or otherwise, for any mineral or group of minerals with a view to delineating or evaluating deposits or concentrations of any such mineral or group of minerals, but does not include “mining”;“prospecting area” means the area of land to which an exclusive prospecting licence relates;“prospecting operations” means any operations carried on in connection with prospecting, including any accessing, extraction or incidental winning of any mineral or group of minerals for the purposes of mineralogical examination, assaying, testwork or marketability surveys;“reconnaissance area” means an area of land to which a reconnaissance licence relates;“reconnaissance licence” means a licence issued under section 62 and includes the extension of such licence;“reconnaissance operations” means any operations carried on in a general search for any mineral or group of minerals by means of aerial sensing techniques, including geophysical surveys, photogeological mapping or imagery carried on from the air, and “reconnaissance” shall have a corresponding meaning;“retention area” means an area of land to which a mineral deposit retention licence relates;“semi-precious stones group” means, subject to the provisions of subsection (4), a group of minerals specified in Part 8 of Schedule 1;“unwrought precious metal” means any unmanufactured metal consisting of gold, silver, platinum, palladium, osmium, rhodium, iridium and ruthenium in the form of bars, ingots, buttons, wire, plate, granules or in solution or in any other form whatsoever, or any article or substance containing such precious metal, or any article consisting of or containing such precious metal which although manufactured is not as such an article of commerce or a work of art or an article of archaeological interest;“waste” means any waste rock, tailings, slimes or other residue derived from any prospecting operations, mining operations or processing of any mineral or group of minerals.

(2)The Minister may, if he or she is on reasonable grounds satisfied that at any place or on any land in Namibia, soil, sand, clay, gravel or stone (other than rock material specified in Part 2 of Schedule 1) is won or mined by any person for purposes of the disposal of such soil, sand, clay, gravel or stone to any other person for profit or for use in the course of any business or undertaking, by notice in the Gazette declare that any provision of this Act specified in such notice shall apply, subject to such conditions, limitations or exceptions, if any, as may be specified in such notice, to such soil, sand, clay, gravel or stone at such place or on such land specified in such notice as if such soil, sand, clay, gravel or stone were a mineral.

(3)The Minister may, if he or she deems it desirable in the interests of the development or the protection of the mineral resources in Namibia, at any time by notice in the Gazette declare -

(a)any mineral other than a diamond to be a controlled mineral;

(b)any mineral other than a diamond to be a high value mineral.

(4)If for purposes of any provision of this Act any dispute arises as to the question whether any mineral falls within any group of minerals, the Minister shall have the power to determine in which group of minerals such mineral shall fall for such purposes, and any such determination shall be final.

Part II – Rights in relation to minerals

2. Rights in relation to minerals

Subject to any right conferred under any provision of this Act, any right in relation to the reconnaissance or prospecting for, and the mining and sale or disposal of, and the exercise of control over, any mineral or group of minerals vests, notwithstanding any right of ownership of any person in relation to any land in, on or under which any such mineral or group of minerals is found, in the State.

3. Prohibition on carrying on certain operations without licence, and transfer of certain licences or grant, cession or assignment of interests in such licences, and joinder of persons as joint holders of such licences or interests

(1)Subject to the provisions of this Act, no person shall -

(a)carry on any reconnaissance operations, prospecting operations or mining operations in, on or under any land in Namibia, except under and in accordance with a non-exclusive prospecting licence, a mining claim or a mineral licence, as the case may be; or

(b)transfer any mining claim, exclusive prospecting licence, mineral deposit retention licence or mining licence, or grant, cede or assign any interest in any such claim or licence to any other person, or be joined as a joint holder of such mining claim, licence or interest otherwise than in writing and with the approval in writing of the Minister.

(2)Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with the provisions of subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction liable to a fine not exceeding R100 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

Part III – Administration of Act

4. Appointment of Mining Commissioner, and designation of other officers

(1)The Minister shall, subject to the laws governing the public service, appoint a person to be known as the Mining Commissioner who shall exercise or perform, subject to the direction and control of the Minister, the powers, duties and functions conferred or imposed upon the Commissioner by or under the provisions of this Act and such other functions as may be imposed upon the Commissioner by the Minister.

(2)The Commissioner shall be assisted by such other officers as may be designated by the Permanent Secretary for such purpose.

(3)The powers conferred and the duties and functions imposed upon the Commissioner by or under the provisions of this Act may be exercised or performed by the Commissioner personally or, except in so far as the Commissioner otherwise determines, by any officer referred to in subsection (2) engaged in carrying out such provisions under the direction and control of the Commissioner.

5. General powers of Commissioner

(1)Subject to the provisions of subsection (2), the Commissioner or any officer who is engaged in carrying out the provisions of this Act and who has been authorized thereto by the Commissioner may, in order to exercise any power or perform any duty or function conferred or imposed by this Act-

(a)at all reasonable times enter any land or place where any reconnaissance operations, prospecting operations or mining operations have been, are or are to be carried on, including any accessory works, or land to which any such operations or accessory works relate;

(b)take or remove, for purposes of mineralogical examination, assaying, testwork or marketability surveys from -

(i)any land, place or accessory works referred to in paragraph (a), any sample of any mineral or group of minerals; or

(ii)any such land, place or accessory works, a sample taken of any sample, or taken of any mineral or group of minerals won or mined, in the course of any operations referred to in paragraph (a);

(c)seize any sample referred to in paragraph (b) or any book, record or document which may in his or her opinion be used in evidence in connection with any offence in terms of this Act;

(d)inspect, make extracts from, and make copies of any book, record or document in relation to any operations or accessory works referred to in paragraph (a);

(e)may make such investigations and inquiries as may be necessary to determine whether the provisions of this Act or any term and condition, direction or order determined, given or made under this Act is being complied with.

(2)The Commissioner or officer referred to in subsection (1) shall -

(a)before exercising any powers under that subsection, identify himself or herself to any holder of a non-exclusive prospecting licence, mining claim or mineral licence or the owner or occupier or other person in charge of the land, place or accessory works, any sample, mineral or group of minerals, or book, record or document in question;

(b)issue a receipt in respect of any sample taken or removed under paragraph (b) of that subsection or any sample, book, record or document seized under paragraph (c) of that subsection;

(c)upon any claim received from the owner of any such sample, return such sample to such owner if it is not used within a reasonable period in evidence in connection with any offence in terms of this Act, or pay to such owner an amount equal to the market value of such sample;

(d)return such book, record or document to the owner of such book, record or document if it is not used within a reasonable period in evidence in connection with any offence in terms of this Act.

(3)The Commissioner or officer referred to in subsection (1) may, in the exercise of his or her powers under that subsection, consult with, or be accompanied by any person who in the opinion of the Commissioner or such officer, has special or expert knowledge of any matter in relation to which such powers are to be exercised.

(4)

(a)The holder of a non-exclusive prospecting licence, a mining claim or a mineral licence or the owner or occupier or other person in charge of any land, place, accessory works, mineral, group of minerals, book, record or document referred to in subsection (1) shall provide the Commissioner or officer so referred to with such reasonable facilities or assistance as may be necessary for the exercise of the powers or the performance of the duties and functions conferred or imposed upon the Commissioner or such officer in terms of that subsection.

(b)Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with the provisions of paragraph (a) shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction liable to a fine not exceeding R8 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

6. Preservation of secrecy

(1)The Commissioner, any other officer employed in the Ministry of Mines and Energy, whether or not engaged in carrying out the provisions of this Act, and any other person engaged in carrying out any provision of this Act shall preserve and aid in preserving secrecy in relation to all matters that may come to his or her knowledge in the exercise of the powers or the performance of the duties and functions conferred or imposed upon the Commissioner or such officer or person in terms of any provision of this Act, and shall not communicate any such matter to any other person or permit any other person to have access to any documents in his or her possession or custody, except in so far as any such communication -

(a)is required by, or may be made in terms of, this Act or any other law, or is required by an order of a competent court;

(b)is effected with the prior permission in writing of the person concerned, or of the Minister granted in respect of any matter which in the opinion of the Minister is of a general nature and may be disclosed in the public interest;

(c)relates to any information submitted, whether by way of a report, return or otherwise, to the Minister or the Commissioner in terms of any provision of this Act in connection with any reconnaissance operations, prospecting operations or mining operations carried on under a non-exclusive prospecting licence, mining claim or mineral licence, as the case may be, unless the holder of such licence or mining claim has applied for any other mineral licence or the registration of a mining claim in respect of the prospecting area, mining area or claim area, as the case may be, in relation to which such information has been submitted or the secrecy of such information is required to be preserved in terms of any term and condition of such mineral licence or mining claim.

(2)Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with the provisions of subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction liable to a fine not exceeding R8 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

7. Prohibition of certain officers on holding certain interests in mineral licences or in companies holding mineral licences

(1)The Commissioner or any other officer employed in the Ministry of Mines and Energy, whether or not engaged in carrying out the provisions of this Act and any other officer engaged in carrying out the provisions of this Act, shall not -

(a)acquire, whether directly or indirectly, any right or interest in any non-exclusive prospecting licence, mining claim or mineral licence;

(b)acquire or hold any share, as defined in section 1 of the Companies Act, 1973 (Act 61 of 1973), or interest in a company which is the holder of a non-exclusive prospecting licence, a mining claim or a mineral licence.

(2)For the purposes of paragraph (b) of subsection (1), the acquisition or holding of a share, as defined in section 1 of the Companies Act, 1973 (Act 61 of 1973), or interest in a company by the husband or wife of the Commissioner or an officer referred to in that subsection, shall be deemed to be an acquisition or holding by the Commissioner or such officer, as the case may be.[The Companies Act 61 of 1973 has been replaced by the Companies Act 28 of 2004.]

(3)Any document or transaction purporting to grant any right or interest referred to in paragraph (a) of subsection (1) upon, or any share certificate or other document purporting to vest any shares or interest referred to in paragraph (b) of that subsection in, the Commissioner or such officer shall be null and void.

(4)Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with the provisions of subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction liable to a fine not exceeding R8 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

(5)In any prosecution for an offence referred to in paragraph (b) of subsection (1), it shall be a sufficient defence if the accused person proves that the share in question was acquired -

(a)by operation of law and that all reasonable steps necessary have been taken, and are being taken, to dispose of the share or interest; or

(b)before he or she became the Commissioner or an officer referred to in subsection (1) or before the company became the holder of the non-exclusive prospecting licence, mining claim or mineral licence, as the case maybe, and that as from the date on which he or she was appointed as the Commissioner or designated as such officer or as from the date on which such company became such holder, all reasonable steps necessary have been taken, and are being taken to dispose of the share.

8. Limitation of liability

No compensation shall be payable by the State or by the Commissioner or any other officer employed in carrying out the provisions of this Act in respect of any act done in good faith under this Act.

Part IV – Minerals Board of Namibia

9. Establishment of Minerals Board of Namibia

There is hereby established a board to be known as Minerals Board of Namibia.

10. Functions of board

(1)The functions of the board shall be to advise the Minister generally or in respect of a particular matter, and make recommendations to him or her, in relation to -

(a)the policy which is or may be followed in relation to the reconnaissance or prospecting for, and the mining and disposal of, and the exercise of control over, any mineral or group of minerals in Namibia, and the manner in which such policy is or may be implemented;

(b)the amendment or application of the provisions of this Act;

(c)any matter referred to the board by the Minister under subsection (2).

(2)Where the Minister is required to exercise or perform any power, duty or function or to take any decision under or for the purposes of this Act, the Minister may, before doing so, request the board to advise him or her in relation to the exercise or performance of such power, duty or function or the taking of such decision.

11. Constitution of board

(1)The board shall consist of -

(a)the Minister or a person designated by him or her who shall be the chairperson of the board;

(b)two persons nominated by the Chamber of Mines of Namibia and appointed by the Minister of whom -

(i)one shall represent the interests of persons involved in prospecting operations; and

(ii)one shall represent the interests of persons involved in mining operations;

(c)two persons appointed by the Minister of whom -

(i)one in the opinion of the Minister represents the interests of persons involved in small-scale prospecting operations;

(ii)one in the opinion of the Minister represents the interests of persons involved in small-scale mining operations;

(d)one person appointed by the Minister who in the opinion of the Minister represents the interests of trade unions established in the interests of persons employed by holders of licences issued under this Act or holders of mining claims; and

(e)two persons employed in the Ministry of Mines and Energy designated by the Minister.

(2)For purposes of the constitution of the board in terms of subsection (1) or to fill any casual vacancies which may have occurred in the membership of the board, the Minister shall by notice in writing invite the Chamber of Mines of Namibia to make the required nominations within such period as may be determined by the Minister and specified in such notice.

(3)If the Chamber of Mines of Namibia ceases to exist or fails to comply with any invitation referred to in subsection (2) within the period referred to in that subsection, the Minister may, with due regard to the provisions of subsection (1), appoint as a member of the board a person who in his or her opinion represents the interests of the persons referred to in paragraph (b)(i) or (ii), as the case may be.

(4)The board may co-opt, with the concurrence of the Minister, on such conditions as may be determined in writing by the Minister -

(a)not more than five persons of whom one each may be designated by -

(i)the Minister of Finance;

(ii)the Minister of Wildlife, Conservation and Tourism;

(iii)the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources;

(iv)the Minister of Health and Social Services; and

(v)the Minister of Agriculture, Water and Rural Development,

or, as the circumstances may require, by any one of the said Ministers;

(b)one person designated by any such other Minister or by each one of such other Ministers as the Minister may, after consultation with such other Minister or Ministers, determine;

(c)one or more other persons,

to assist it in the exercise or performance of its functions, but such person or persons shall not be entitled to vote on any matter before the board.

12. Term of office and conditions of service of members of board

(1)Subject to the provisions of section 13, a member of the board referred to in paragraph (b), (c) or (d) of subsection (1) of section 11 shall hold office for a period of three years, but may be re-appointed at the expiration of that period.

(2)A member of the board who is not employed in the public service on a full-time basis shall be paid out of money, appropriated for such purpose by an Act of Parliament, such remuneration and allowances, if any, and in respect of a journey undertaken for purposes of the business of the board, such subsistence and travelling allowances as the Minister may, with the concurrence of the Minister of Finance, determine.

(3)The remuneration and allowances determined under subsection (2) may differ according to the office on the board held by a member of the board concerned or the functions performed by him or her.

13. Vacation of office by members of board

(1)A member of the board shall vacate his or her office, if -

(a)the estate of such member is sequestrated, or such member compromises with his or her creditors;

(b)such member is according to the law detained as a mentally ill person;

(c)such member is convicted of an offence and sentenced to imprisonment without the option of a fine;

(d)such member, by writing under his or her hand addressed and delivered to the Permanent Secretary, resigns from his or her office as a member of the board;

(e)such member has absented himself or herself from two consecutive meetings of the board without the leave of the chairperson of the board;

(f)such person’s nomination or designation, as the case may be, as a member of the board is withdrawn by notice in writing addressed and delivered to the Minister by the person who has nominated or designated him or her.

(2)Any casual vacancy on the board caused by the death or vacation of office by any member of the board shall, with due regard to the provisions of section 11, be filled for the unexpired portion of the period of office of the member of the board who has died or vacated his or her office, as the case may be.

14. Meetings of board and decisions

(1)Subject to the provisions of subsection (2), a meeting of the board shall be held at such time and place as may be determined by the chairperson of the board.

(2)The chairperson of the board shall, if he or she is not the Minister, at the request of the Minister or on a reasoned request in writing of at least four members of the board convene a special meeting of the board.

(3)The majority of the members of the board shall form a quorum for a meeting of the board.

(4)The chairperson of the board shall preside at all meetings of the board at which he or she is present.

(5)When the chairperson of the board is absent from a meeting of the board the members of the board present shall elect a person from among their number to act as chairperson at that meeting, and while such member so acts he or she shall have all the powers and shall perform all the duties of the chairperson.

(6)The decision of a majority of the members of the board present at the meeting of the board shall be a decision of the board: Provided that in the event of an equality of votes the person presiding at the meeting shall have a casting vote in addition to his or her deliberative vote.

(7)The person presiding at a meeting of the board shall, if such person is not the Minister, cause -

(a)any decision of the board and the reasons for such decision; and

(b)upon the request of any member who has voted against such decision, his or her reasons for voting against such decision,

to be conveyed to the Minister.

(8)No decision taken by the board or act performed under the authority of the board shall be invalid by reason only of a vacancy on the board, or by reason only of the fact that any person who is not entitled to sit as a member of the board sat as a member of the board when the decision was taken or the act was authorized, if the decision was taken or the act was authorized by the requisite majority of the members of the board who were present at the time and entitled to sit as such members.

(9)The board shall cause a record to be kept of the proceedings of the meetings of the board.

(10)The board may make rules in relation to the holding of, and procedure at, meetings of the board.

15. Performance of administrative functions of board

(1)The administrative and clerical work involved in the performance of the functions of the board shall be performed by officers in the Ministry of Mines and Energy made available by the Permanent Secretary for that purpose.

(2)The Permanent Secretary may designate an officer referred to in subsection (1) as secretary of the board.

(3)Subject to the provisions of the State Finance Act, 1991 (Act 31 of 1991), the board may, after consultation with the Permanent Secretary and on such conditions as may be mutually agreed upon, obtain the services of such persons as it may deem necessary to advise it in connection with the performance of its functions.

Part V – Provisions relating to non-exclusive prospecting licences

16. Rights of holders of non-exclusive prospecting licences

(1)Subject to the provisions of subsections (2) and (3), the holder of a non-exclusive prospecting licence shall be entitled -

(a)to carry on prospecting operations on any land for any mineral or group of minerals;

(b)to remove any mineral or group of minerals other than a controlled mineral or sample of such mineral or group of minerals, for any purpose other than sale or disposal, from any place where it was found or incidentally won in the course of prospecting operations referred to in paragraph (a) to any place within Namibia;

(c)with the permission of the Commissioner previously obtained generally or in every particular case in writing and subject to such conditions as may be determined by the Commissioner or subject to the conditions of an exemption granted under section 137 -

(i)to remove any mineral or group of minerals referred to in paragraph (b) for any purpose other than sale or disposal, from any place where it was found or incidentally won in the course of prospecting operations referred to in paragraph (a) to any place outside Namibia;

(ii)to remove any controlled mineral or sample of such mineral, for any purpose other than sale or disposal, from any place where it was found or incidentally won in the course of prospecting operations referred to in paragraph (a) to any place, whether within or outside Namibia;

(iii)to remove any mineral or group of minerals, for purposes of sale or disposal, from any place where it was found or incidentally won in the course of such prospecting operations;

(iv)to sell or otherwise dispose of any such mineral or group of minerals.

(2)The holder of a non-exclusive prospecting licence shall not exercise any rights conferred upon such holder by subsection (1) -

(a)in, on or under any private land until such time as such holder has by way of an endorsement on such licence or otherwise obtained the permission in writing of the owner of such land to exercise such rights on such land without the payment of any compensation to such owner, or has complied mutatis mutandis with the provisions of section 52(1)(a)(i) or has been granted an ancillary right as provided in section 110(4) to exercise such rights on such land;

(b)unreasonably and in such manner that the rights and interests of the owner of any land to which such licence relates are adversely affected, except to the extent to which such owner is compensated;

(c)in respect of any mineral or group of minerals, in, on or under any land forming part of -

(i)any land in relation to which an application by any other person for a reconnaissance licence and an exclusive right referred to in section 59 in respect of such mineral or group of minerals, submitted to the Commissioner and posted on the notice board in the office of the Commissioner, is pending;

(ii)a reconnaissance area in relation to which an application by any other person for an exclusive right referred to in section 59 in respect of such mineral or group of minerals, submitted to the Commissioner and posted on the notice board in the office of the Commissioner, is pending; or

(iii)a reconnaissance area in relation to which an exclusive right referred to in section 59 has been conferred upon any person in respect of such mineral or group of minerals;

(d)in, on or under any land in a claim area, a prospecting area, a retention area or a mining area or, subject to the provisions of section 29, in, on or under any claim;

(e)in, on or under any land in respect of which an application by any other person for an exclusive prospecting licence, a mineral deposit retention licence or a mining licence, submitted to the Commissioner in accordance with the provisions of section 47 and posted on the notice board in the office of the Commissioner, is pending;

(f)in, on or under any land in respect of any source material specified in Part 5 of Schedule 1.

(3)The provisions of sections 52(1)(b), (c), (d), (e) and (f), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6) and (7) and 53 shall apply mutatis mutandis in relation to the holder of a nonexclusive prospecting licence.

(4)An application for the permission referred to in subsection (1)(c), shall be made to the Commissioner in such form as may be determined in writing by the Commissioner and shall be accompanied by such application fee, if any, as may be determined under section 123, together with such documents and information as may be required by the Commissioner.

(5)The holder of a non-exclusive prospecting licence who has removed, as contemplated in paragraph (b) of subsection (1), any mineral or group of minerals other than a controlled mineral or any sample of such mineral or group of minerals from the place where it was found or incidentally won, for any purpose other than for sale or disposal, to any place within Namibia, shall, except to the extent to which such holder has been exempted under the provisions of section 137 from the provisions of this subsection, inform the Commissioner in writing of such removal, not later than 14 days or such longer period after such removal as the Commissioner may allow, and provide particulars of the nature of such sample, mineral or group of minerals and the place to which it has been so removed.

(6)

(a)The holder of a non-exclusive prospecting licence who has contravened or failed to comply with the provisions of subsection (1)(c) or (5) shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction liable to a fine not exceeding R20 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

(b)If in any prosecution in terms of paragraph (a) of this subsection for the contravention or failure to comply with the provisions of subsection (1)(c)(iii), it is proved -

(i)that the holder referred to in that paragraph has removed any mineral or group of minerals from the area to which the non-exclusive prospecting licence relates;

(ii)that such holder has not obtained the permission of the Commissioner for the removal of such mineral or group of minerals as required by subsection (1)(c); and

(iii)that such holder has failed to inform the Commissioner of the removal of such mineral or group of minerals as provided in subsection (5),

it shall be presumed until the contrary is proved that such holder has removed such mineral or group of minerals for purposes of sale or disposal.

17. Persons who may apply for non-exclusive prospecting licences

Any person may apply for a non-exclusive prospecting licence, provided, in the case of a natural person, such person has reached the age of 18 years.

18. Applications for non-exclusive prospecting licences

(1)Subject to the provisions of this Act, an application for a non-exclusive prospecting licence shall be made to the Commissioner in such form as may be determined in writing by the Commissioner and shall be accompanied by such application fee and such licence fee in respect of the licence period of such licence as may be determined under section 123.

(2)An application referred to in subsection (1) -

(a)shall contain -

(i)in the case of a natural person -

(aa)the full names, nationality, date of birth, postal and residential address of such person; and

(bb)particulars, if any, of any convictions by a court of law in respect of which he or she was sentenced to imprisonment, whether suspended or not, without the option of a fine; or

(ii)in the case of a company, the name of such company, particulars of its incorporation and registration as a company, the registered address and principal place of business of such company in Namibia and the names and nationality of the directors of the company; and

(iii)in the case of any such person represented by an accredited agent, the full names and address of such accredited agent;

(b)shall be accompanied by such documents as the Commissioner may require in relation to any particulars referred to in this section; and

(c)may contain any other matter which in the opinion of the person concerned is relevant to the application.

(3)Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Commissioner may grant on such terms and conditions as may be determined in writing by him or her, or refuse to grant, an application referred to in subsection (1).

19. Powers of Commissioner in respect of applications for non-exclusive prospecting licences

(1)The Commissioner may at any time after receipt of any application for a non-exclusive prospecting licence referred to in section 18, require the person concerned by notice in writing to furnish him or her within such reasonable period as may be specified in such notice, with -

(a)such information specified in such notice as the Commissioner may in his or her discretion deem necessary to enable him or her to determine who, in the case of a company, has the controlling interest in the affairs of the company; or

(b)such other information so specified as the Commissioner may in his or her discretion deem necessary for purposes of considering such application.

20. Restrictions on grant of non-exclusive prospecting licences

The Commissioner shall not grant an application for a non-exclusive prospecting licence to any natural person, unless such person is a person referred to in section 17 and is in the opinion of the Commissioner a fit and proper person to hold such licence.

21. Issue of non-exclusive prospecting licences

(1)The Commissioner shall, upon the granting of an application for a non-exclusive prospecting licence, issue to the person who applied for such licence a non-exclusive prospecting licence in such form and on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Commissioner.

(2)Subject to the provisions of subsection (1), a non-exclusive prospecting licence shall -

(a)contain the full names and address of the holder of the non-exclusive prospecting licence and, in the case of such a holder who is resident outside Namibia, the full names and address of such holder’s accredited agent;

(b)state the date on which and the period for which such non-exclusive prospecting licence is issued;

(c)state, whether or not by way of an annexure to such licence, the terms and conditions subject to which such licence is issued;

(d)contain a reference to the place where the issue of such licence has been recorded in the register kept in terms of section 51, as applied by subsection (3) of this section; and

(e)contain such other particulars as the Commissioner may, either generally or in any particular case, determine.

(3)The provisions of section 51 shall apply in relation to every non-exclusive prospecting licence issued in terms of this section.

22. Duration of non-exclusive prospecting licence

Subject to the provisions of this Act, a non-exclusive prospecting licence shall be valid for a period of 12 months.

23. Transfer or renewal of non-exclusive prospecting licences, and grant, cession or assignment of interests in such licences, and joinder of persons as joint holders of such licences or interests

A non-exclusive prospecting licence shall not be transferred or renewed, and the holder of any non-exclusive prospecting licence shall not grant, cede or assign any interest in such licence to any other person, and no person shall be joined as the joint holder of such licence or interest.

24. Records to be kept and returns to be submitted by licence holders of non-exclusive prospecting licences

(1)The holder of a non-exclusive prospecting licence -

(a)shall keep at an address in Namibia a proper record in such form as may be determined in writing by the Commissioner in relation to -

(i)the nature and mass or volume of any mineral or group of minerals found or incidentally won in the course of such prospecting operations; and

(ii)the nature, mass or volume and value of any mineral or group of minerals sold or otherwise disposed of and the full names and address of any person to whom such mineral or group of minerals has been sold or otherwise disposed of,

and shall retain such records for a period of not less than three years as from the expiry of such licence;

(b)shall submit in respect of the period of such licence’s currency to the Commissioner in such form as the Commissioner may determine a statement of income and expenditure derived or incurred in relation to the information contemplated in paragraph (a);

(c)shall upon the request of the Commissioner produce the record referred to in paragraph (a) or any copies of such records to the Commissioner for inspection.

(2)Any person referred to in subsection (1) who contravenes or fails to comply with the provisions of that subsection shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding R8 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

Part VI – Pegging of claims

25. Persons who may peg claims

(1)No person shall peg any claim, unless such person is the holder of a non-exclusive prospecting licence or, with the permission of the Minister referred to in subsection (2), an exclusive prospecting licence, and such person -

(a)is a Namibian citizen; or

(b)is, in the case of a company referred to in paragraph (a) of the definition of “company” in section 1, a company whose articles of association contain a provision providing -

(i)that only Namibian citizens may own shares in such company;

(ii)that only another company whose articles of association contain such a provision may own shares in such first-mentioned company; or

(iii)that only Namibian citizens and a company referred to in subparagraph (ii) may own shares in such first-mentioned company; or

(c)is a company referred to in paragraph (b) of the definition of “company” in section 1.

(2)

(a)The Minister may, upon an application made by the holder of an exclusive prospecting licence contemplated in subsection (1) and if the Minister deems it desirable in the interests of the development of the mineral resources of Namibia, grant such holder permission to peg a claim.

(b)An application referred to in paragraph (a) shall be made to the Minister in such form as may be determined in writing by the Minister and shall be accompanied by such application fee, if any, as may be determined under section 123, together with such documents as may be required by the Minister.

(3)Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1), the Minister may, upon an application made to him or her in such form as may be determined in writing by the Minister and if the Minister deems it desirable in the interests of the development of the mineral resources of Namibia, declare by notice in the Gazette that any company other than a company referred to in paragraph (b) or (c) of subsection (1) shall, for purposes of this section, be deemed, either generally or in respect of any particular claim, to be a company referred to in the said paragraph (b).

26. Restrictions on pegging of claims

(1)No person shall peg any claim in respect of source material specified in part 5 of Schedule 1.

(2)Subject to the provisions of subsection (3), no person shall peg -

(a)any claim if such person is the holder of 10 or more mining claims;

(b)more than 10 claims; or

(c)such number of claims which would, together with any other claims pegged by him or her or any mining claims of which he or she is the holder, amount to more than 10 claims,

without the prior permission in writing of the Minister.

(3)An application for the permission of the Minister referred to in subsection (2) shall be made to the Minister in such form as may be determined in writing by the Minister and shall be accompanied by such application fee, if any, as may be determined under section 123, together with such documents as may be required by the Minister.

(4)The Minister shall in considering an application referred to in subsection (3) have regard to the interests of the development of the mineral resources of Namibia and the technical and financial resources of, or available to, such person to carry on mining operations or prospecting operations on the claim to which such application relates.

27. Limitations on pegging of claims

(1)No claim shall be pegged by a person referred to in section 25 -

(a)between sunset and sunrise or on a Sunday or on any public holiday specified in the Schedule to the Public Holidays Act, 1990 (Act 26 of 1990); and

(b)unless such person or any other person authorized thereto by him or her in writing, is present and in possession of such licence or a copy of such first-mentioned person’s non-exclusive prospecting licence or the exclusive prospecting licence, as the case may be, certified as a true copy by a commissioner of oaths, on the land on which such claim is pegged.

(2)The person referred to in subsection (1) shall allot to each claim pegged by him or her in accordance with the provisions of this section an ordinal number in consecutive order commencing from the number one.

(3)Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with the provisions of subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction liable to a fine not exceeding R8 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

28. Manner of pegging of claims

(1)Subject to the provisions of subsection (2), a claim -

(a)shall be of rectangular shape of which the dimensions of its longer an shorter sides shall measure horizontally 600 and 300 metres, respectively;

(b)shall not include portions of land which are not contiguous to each other.

(2)The provisions of subsection (1) shall not apply in relation to a claim in respect of which the proximity of existing claims or mining claims or existing mining areas, prospecting areas or retention areas or the application of the provisions of section 16(2) renders such shape and dimensions impossible: Provided that the area of such claim shall not exceed 18 hectares.

(3)Subject to the provisions of subsection (5), a claim referred to in subsection (1) shall be pegged by erecting -

(a)two middle beacons 300 metres horizontally apart, each at the middle point of the long sides of such claim;

(b)four corner beacons, each on one of the four corners of such claim; and

(c)such line beacons between any of the beacons referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) as may be necessary to ensure that the two beacons adjoining any beacon on the boundary of such claim are clearly visible from such last-mentioned beacon.

(4)Subject to the provisions of subsection (5), a claim referred to in subsection (2) shall be pegged by erecting -

(a)a corner beacon at each point where each line on the boundary of such claim changes direction on a horizontal level; and

(b)such line beacons between any of the beacons referred to in paragraph (a) as may be necessary to ensure that the two beacons adjoining any beacon on the boundary of such claim are clearly visible from such last-mentioned beacon.

(5)If the place at any point where a beacon is in terms of the provisions of this section required to be erected is not reasonably accessible, one indicatory beacon shall be erected on each one of the boundary lines which meet at such point as near as possible to such point indicating the position of such point.

(6)Every beacon contemplated in this section shall consist of -

(a)a peg, consisting of -

(i)a metal rod in diameter of not less than 20 millimetres or a metal fencing pole of any diameter; or

(ii)a wooden pole in diameter of not less than 50 millimetres,

fixed, having regard to the nature of the surface of the land, firmly in an upright position projecting at least one metre above the surface of the ground;

(b)a beacon plate at the uppermost end of the peg referred to in paragraph (a), consisting of a rectangular metal or strong wooden plate, the long and short sides of which shall measure not less than 300 millimetres and 230 millimetres, respectively;

(c)a cairn of stones of conical shape having a diameter at its base of not less than one metre and its apex rising to at least 300 millimetres in height up the peg from the surface of the ground or, in an area where sufficient stones are not available, a heap of sand or gravel of such shape having a diameter at its base of not less than two metres and its apex rising to at least 300 millimetres in height up the peg from the surface of the ground;

(d)where the nature of the surface of land permits, a trench of 300 millimetres deep and 300 millimetres wide surrounding the base of the cairn of stones or heap of sand or gravel referred to in paragraph (c); and

(e)a trench of 300 millimetres deep and 300 millimetres wide or, where the nature of the surface of the land does not permit the digging of any such trench, a line of stones, extending outward from the base of the cairn of stones or heap of sand or gravel referred to in paragraph (c) for a distance of not less than two metres in the direction of the two beacons adjoining such beacon on the boundary of such claim.

(7)Each beacon plate referred to in subsection (6) shall display in legible block letters of at least 25 millimetres in height -

(a)the name of the holder of the licence in question;

(b)the nature and number of the licence in question;

(c)the ordinal number allotted by such holder to such claim in terms of section 27(2);

(d)the date on which such claim was pegged in accordance with the provisions of subsection (3) or (4), as the case may be;

(e)a description of the type of beacon as being a middle beacon, a corner beacon, a line beacon or an indicatory beacon, as the case may be; and

(f)in the case of an indicatory beacon, the distance expressed in metres from the peg of such beacon to the point to which such indicatory beacon relates.

(8)If a claim adjoining any existing claim is pegged and any beacon of such existing claim is situated on a point where a beacon for the first-mentioned claim is, in terms of the provisions of this section, required to be erected, the holder of the licence in question pegging such claim may, in erecting a beacon at such point, make use, without causing any damage to such first-mentioned beacon, of any part of such beacon other than the peg or beacon plate thereof.

29. Effect of pegging of claims

Subject to the provisions of this Act, no person other than the holder of the licence in question who has pegged a claim as provided in section 28(3) or (4) shall carry on any prospecting operations, and no person shall peg any claim or carry on any mining operations on any such first-mentioned claim -

(a)during a period of 21 days as from the date on which such claim was so pegged; or

(b)if application has been made to the Commissioner for the registration of such claim in terms of section 33, during a period as from the date on which such application has been so made until such application is refused or the application is withdrawn or has lapsed, whichever occurs first, or, if such application is granted, until such time as the registration of such claim is entered in the register referred to in section 36(2).

30. Powers of Commissioner in event of failure by holders to comply with provisions of this Part or disputes

(1)If the Commissioner has at any time, whether before or after the registration of a claim, reason to believe that the holder of the licence in question who has pegged a claim, has contravened or failed to comply with any provision of this Part, or if any dispute arises between any such holder and any other person who has a direct and substantial interest in any matter relating to such pegging whether such holder has contravened or has failed to comply with any such provision, the Commissioner shall make such investigations in such manner and in accordance with such procedure as he or she may deem necessary or expedient.

(2)If, after any investigation referred to in subsection (1), the Commissioner finds that the holder referred to in that subsection has contravened or failed to comply with any provision of this Part, the Commissioner -

(a)may by notice in writing addressed and delivered to such holder inform such holder of his or her findings and the reasons for such finding and -

(i)direct such holder to take, within the period specified in such notice such steps as the Commissioner may determine and specified in such notice, to give effect to the provisions of this Act; or

(ii)declare the pegging of such claim to be null and void, whereupon such claim shall, for purposes of the provisions of this Act, be deemed to have been abandoned; and

(b)may direct such holder or the other person referred to in subsection (1) to pay -

(i)for the benefit of the State Revenue Fund the costs or any part of such costs incurred by the Commissioner in connection with such investigation;

(ii)to the holder or such person, as the case may be, the costs or any part of such costs incurred by such holder or person in connection with any dispute between them which gave rise to such investigation.

(3)A direction referred to in paragraph (b) of subsection (2) shall be executable as if such direction were a judgement of a magistrate’s court.

(4)Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with a direction referred to in subsection (2) shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction liable to a fine not exceeding R8 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months or to both such fine and imprisonment.

(5)If the holder referred to in subsection (1) fails to take to the satisfaction of the Commissioner the steps specified in the notice referred to in paragraph (a) of subsection (2) within the period specified in such notice or such further period as the Commissioner may on good cause shown allow, the Commissioner may cause such steps to be taken and recover in a competent court the costs incurred thereby from such holder.

Part VII – Provisions relating to mining claims

31. Rights of holders of mining claims

(1)Subject to the provisions of this Act and the terms and conditions subject to which any mining claim has been registered, the holder of a mining claim shall be entitled -

(a)to carry on mining operations on such mining claim for any mineral or group of minerals in respect of which such mining claim has been registered;

(b)to carry on on such mining claim -

(i)in lieu of any mining operations referred to in paragraph (a), any prospecting operations in relation to any mineral or group of minerals for a period not exceeding six months as from the date on which such mining claim is registered or, upon the expiry of such period, such further period as the Commissioner may, on application to the Commissioner by the holder of such mining claim in such form as may be determined in writing by the Commissioner and on good cause shown, approve in writing;

(ii)in conjunction with any mining operations referred to in paragraph (a), any prospecting operations in relation to any mineral or group of minerals;

(c)to remove any mineral or group of minerals other than a controlled mineral or sample of such mineral or group of minerals, for any purpose other than sale or disposal, from any place where it was won or mined in the course of mining operations referred to in paragraph (a) or found or incidentally won in the course of prospecting operations referred to in paragraph (b) to any other place within Namibia;

(d)with the permission in writing of the Commissioner previously obtained generally or in every particular case and subject to such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Commissioner or subject to the conditions of an exemption granted under section 137 -

(i)to remove any mineral or group of minerals referred to in paragraph (c) for any purpose other than sale or disposal, from any place where it was won or mined in the course of mining operations referred to in paragraph (a) or found or incidentally won in the course of prospecting operations referred to in paragraph (b) to any place outside Namibia;

(ii)to remove from the claim area, for any purpose other than sale or disposal, any controlled mineral or sample of such mineral won or mined in the course of mining operations referred to in paragraph (a) or found or incidentally won in the course of prospecting operations referred to in paragraph (c) to any other place, whether within or outside Namibia;

(iii)to remove from the claim area, for purposes of sale or disposal, any mineral or group of minerals, won or mined in the course of mining operations referred to in paragraph (a) or found or incidentally won in the course of prospecting operations referred to in paragraph (b)(i);

(iv)to sell or otherwise dispose of any such mineral or group of minerals;

(e)to carry on such other operations, including the erection or construction of accessory works, as may be reasonably necessary for, or in connection with, any mining operations, prospecting operations, removal, selling or disposal contemplated in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d).

(2)The provisions of sections 52(1)(a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6) and (7) and 53 shall apply mutatis mutandis in relation to the exercise by the holder of a mining claim of the right to carry on mining operations or prospecting operations referred to in this section.

(3)

(a)The holder of a mining claim shall not erect or construct any accessory works referred to in subsection (1)(e) without the prior permission in writing of the Commissioner.

(b)The Commissioner shall not grant the permission referred to in paragraph (a) in respect of a mining claim situated on private land, unless the holder of the mining claim -

(i)has entered into an agreement in writing with the owner of such land containing terms and conditions relating to the payment of compensation and has submitted a copy of such agreement to the Commissioner; or

(ii)has been granted an ancillary right as provided in section 110(4) to exercise such rights on such land.

(4)An application -

(a)to carry on prospecting operations in accordance with the provisions of subsection (1)(b)(i) for a period longer than six months;

(b)for the permission referred to in subsection (1)(d) or (3),

shall be made to the Commissioner in such form as may be determined in writing by the Commissioner and shall be accompanied by such application fee, if any, as may be determined under section 123, together with such documents and information as may be required by the Commissioner.

(5)The holder of a mining claim who has removed, as contemplated in paragraph (c) of subsection (1), any mineral or group of minerals other than a controlled mineral or any sample of such mineral or group of minerals from the place where it was found or won, for any purpose other than for sale or disposal, to any other place within Namibia, shall, except to the extent to which such holder has been exempted under the provisions of section 137 from the provisions of this subsection, inform the Commissioner in writing of such removal, not later than 14 days or such longer period after such removal as the Commissioner may allow, and provide particulars of the nature of such sample, mineral or group of minerals and the place to which it has been so removed.

(6)

(a)The holder of a mining claim who has contravened or failed to comply with the provisions of subsection (1)(b)(i) or (d), (3) or (5) shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction liable to a fine not exceeding R20 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

(b)If in any prosecution in terms of paragraph (a) of this subsection for an offence referred to in subsection (1)(d)(iii), it is proved -

(i)that the holder referred to in that paragraph has removed any mineral or group of minerals from the claim area to which the mining claim relates;

(ii)that such holder has not obtained the permission of the Commissioner for the removal of such mineral or group of minerals as required by subsection (1)(d); and

(iii)that such holder has failed to inform the Commissioner of the removal of such mineral or group of minerals as provided in subsection (5),

it shall be presumed until the contrary is proved that such holder has removed such mineral or group of minerals for purposes of sale or disposal, as the case may be.

32. Persons who may apply for registration of claims

A person who has pegged a claim in accordance with the provisions of Part VI may apply for the registration of such claim.

33. Applications for registration of claims

(1)Subject to the provisions of this section, an application for the registration of a claim shall be made to the Commissioner in such form as may be determined in writing by the Commissioner within 21 days as from the date on which such claim has been pegged as provided in section 28, and shall be accompanied by such application fee and such claim fee in respect of the first registration period of such mining claim as may be determined under section 123.

(2)An application referred to in subsection (1) -

(a)shall contain -

(i)in the case of a natural person -

(aa)the full names, nationality, date of birth, postal and residential address of such person; and

(bb)particulars, if any, of any convictions by a court of law in respect of which he or she was sentenced to imprisonment, whether suspended or not, without the option of a fine; or

(ii)in the case of a company, the name of such company and particulars of its incorporation and registration as a company, the registered address and principal place of business of the company in Namibia, the full names and nationality of the directors of the company, the share capital of the company and the full names and nationality of any person who is the beneficial owner of more than five per cent of the shares issued by such company; and

(iii)in the case of any person represented by an accredited agent, the full names and address of such accredited agent;

(b)shall contain particulars of -

(i)any licences issued in terms of this Act or any law repealed by this Act held by such person alone or jointly with any other person; and

(ii)any prospecting operations and mining operations carried on by such person alone or jointly with any other person outside Namibia,

on the date of such application and during a period of 10 years immediately preceding such date; and

(c)shall contain -

(i)particulars of the mineral or group of minerals which such holder intends to mine on such claim;

(ii)the date on which such claim was pegged in accordance with the provisions of section 28(3) or (4), as the case may be;

(iii)the ordinal number allotted by such holder to such claim in terms of section 27(2);

(iv)the number and, if any, the name of the property on, and the magisterial district in, which the claim has been pegged, and the name and postal address of the owner of such property;

(v)particulars, substantiated by documentary proof or such other proof as may be required by the Commissioner, of the technical and financial resources of, or available to, such person to carry on mining operations or prospecting operations on the claim to which the application relates; and

(vi)particulars of -

(aa)the condition of, and any existing damage to, the environment in the area to which the application relates; and

(bb)an estimate of the effect which the proposed prospecting operations and mining operations may have on the environment and the proposed steps to be taken in order to minimize or prevent any such effect;

(d)shall contain, in the case of an application for the renewal of the registration of a mining claim, particulars of -

(i)mining operations carried on on the mining claim in question and the amount expended in respect of such mining claim during the period as from the date on which it was registered or, if such registration was previously renewed, the date on which it was so renewed, to a date not later than 14 days prior to such application; and

(ii)any mineral or a group of minerals mined on such mining claim and sold or otherwise disposed of during such period as the Commissioner may require;

(e)shall be accompanied by a sketch-plan in quadruplicate, together with such certificate as the Commissioner may require verifying the accuracy of such sketch-plan and confirming that the beacons of such claim have been erected m accordance with the provisions of Part VI -

(i)drawn as near as possible to scale in ink on strong or durable paper;

(ii)showing the direction of either the true or magnetic north pointing towards the top edge of such paper;

(iii)showing the relative position of every middle beacon, corner beacon, line beacon or indicatory beacon erected on the boundaries of such claim, and the length of each boundary line of such claim;

(iv)showing the position of all adjoining claims, mining claims or mining areas, exclusive prospecting areas or retention areas which are marked by beacons, the names of holders of such licences and the ordinal numbers appearing on such beacons;

(v)showing the position of such claim relative to -

(aa)the boundaries of, and any buildings on, the property on which such claim is pegged and the approximate angle of direction to, and distance from, at least one of the corner beacons of the claim to the nearest corner beacon or peg of such property;

(bb)any building, water supply, road, railway, river-bed, fence, trigonometrical beacon, claim, mining claim, mining area, exclusive prospecting area or retention area which is marked with beacons within such claim or within 500 metres of any boundary of such claim; and

(vi)showing any other particulars so as to enable the claim to be located on the land where it is situated and to be plotted on a topocadastral map;

(f)shall be accompanied by such other documents as the Commissioner may require in relation to any particulars referred to in this section; and

(g)may contain any other matter which in the opinion of the person concerned is relevant to the application.

34. Powers of Commissioner in respect of applications for registration of claims

(1)The Commissioner may at any time after the receipt of any application referred to in section 33 for the registration of a claim, require the person concerned by notice in writing to furnish him or her within such reasonable period as may be specified in such notice with -

(a)such information specified in such notice as the Commissioner may in his or her discretion deem necessary to enable him or her to determine who, in the case of a company, are the shareholders of such company; and

(b)such other information so specified as the Commissioner may in his or her discretion deem necessary for purposes of considering such application.

(2)In order to enable the Commissioner to consider any application referred to in subsection (1) the Commissioner may cause such investigations to be made or undertaken as the Commissioner may in his or her discretion deem necessary, and may, in consequence of any such investigations, give such directions in writing to the person referred to in subsection (1) in relation to such application as the Commissioner may deem reasonably necessary or expedient.

(3)In considering any application referred to in subsection (1) and the terms and conditions subject to which such application may be granted, the Commissioner shall take into account the need to conserve and protect the natural resources in, on or under the land to which the application relates and in, on or under adjoining or neighbouring land.

35. Restrictions on grant of applications for registration of claims

The Commissioner shall not grant an application for the registration by any person of a claim -

(a)unless such person is a person referred to in section 32;

(b)unless such person has complied with the provisions of Part VI:

(c)if, at the time of the application, such person is contravening any provision of this Act or any term and condition, direction or order determined, given or made under any provision of this Act or is failing to comply with any such provision, term and condition, direction or order;

(d)unless such claim is situated in an area of land in which, and relates to any mineral or group of minerals in respect of which, such person was entitled, at the time of the pegging of such claim, to carry on prospecting operations;

(e)unless the Commissioner is on reasonable grounds satisfied -

(i)that such claim contains a mineral or a group of minerals to which the application relates which in the Commissioner’s opinion may be mined and sold or otherwise disposed of on a profitable basis;

(ii)that such person intends to carry on mining operations in good faith and has the technical and financial resources to do so; and

(iii)that in the course of any such mining operations or any prospecting operations which may be carried on in lieu of such mining operations appropriate measures will be taken to minimize or prevent any pollution of the environment.

36. Registration of claims

(1)The Commissioner shall, upon the granting of an application for registration of a claim -

(a)register such claim, subject to such terms and conditions as may be determined in writing by the Commissioner.[Paragraph (a) should end with a semicolon rather than a full stop.]

(b)enter such registration in the register of mining claims kept in terms of subsection (2);

(c)issue, in such form as may be determined in writing by the Commissioner, a registration certificate to the person concerned which shall -

(i)state the full names and address of the holder of the mining claim and, in the case of such a holder who is resident outside Namibia, the full names and address of such holder’s accredited agent;

(ii)state the date on which and the period for which such mining claim is registered;

(iii)contain a copy of the sketch-plan referred to in section 33(2)(e) or a diagram, prepared by an officer employed in the Ministry of Mines and Energy and designated by the Permanent Secretary for that purpose, of the claim area in question containing geometrical or numerical depictions or any combination of such depiction and a description in words or symbols of such mining claim;

(iv)state the mineral or group of minerals in respect of which such mining claim is registered;

(v)state, whether or not by way of an annexure to such registration certificate, the terms and conditions subject to which such mining claim has been registered; and

(vi)contain such other particulars as the Commissioner may, either generally or in any particular case, determine; and

(d)forthwith inform the owner of the land on which the claim is situated by notice in writing of the registration of such claim and furnish such owner of such particulars of the holder and the location of such claim as the Commissioner may deem appropriate.

(2)The Commissioner shall keep and maintain a register of mining claims in which shall be recorded -

(a)the full names and such other particulars of the holder and joint holder of a mining claim or interest in such mining claim in whose name such mining claim or interest has been registered or to whom such claim has been transferred or to whom an interest in such mining claim has been granted, ceded or assigned as may be determined in writing by the Commissioner and, in the case of a holder or joint holder of a mining claim who is resident outside Namibia, the full names and address of his or her accredited agent;

(b)the date on which such mining claim has been registered or transferred or any interest in such mining claim has been granted, ceded or assigned or a person has been joined as joint holder of such mining claim or interest and the date on which such mining claim will lapse in terms of section 37;

(c)the date on which the registration of such claim has been renewed in terms of section 38 and the date on which such registration will lapse after such renewal;

(d)a description of the location of such mining claim, including, if furnished or otherwise acquired in terms of section 40(3)(a) or 41(3), the longitude and latitude co-ordinates of any beacons of such claim;

(e)the minerals or group of minerals in respect of which such mining claim has been registered;

(f)particulars of any permissions granted under any provision of this Act in relation to such mining claim;

(g)the date on which the registration of such mining claim has been cancelled in terms of section 44;

(h)particulars of any agreement or ancillary right referred to in section 52, as applied by section 31(2); and

(i)such other particulars as may in the opinion of the Commissioner be necessary for purposes of carrying out the provisions of this Act to effect an efficient system of registration of mining claims and any interests in such mining claims.

(3)A copy of the registration certificate issued in terms of paragraph (c) of subsection (1) and the register referred to in subsection (2) shall during ordinary office hours be open for inspection by any person free of charge, and any person may on payment of such fee as may be determined under section 123 obtain copies of such registration certificate or extracts from such register.

37. Duration of mining claims

(1)Subject to the provisions of this Act, the registration of a mining claim shall lapse -

(a)on a date three years as from the date on which such mining claim has been registered;

(b)on such later date or dates not exceeding two years at a time as from the date on which such registration has from time to time been renewed in terms of section 38; or

(c)on the date on which a mineral deposit retention licence or a mining licence is issued to the holder of such mining claim in respect of the claim area.

(2)Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1), but subject to the other provisions of this Act, where an application is made by the holder of a mining claim for -

(a)the renewal of the registration of such mining claim; or

(b)a mineral deposit retention licence or a mining licence in relation to the claim area of such mining claim,

the registration of such mining claim shall not lapse until such application is refused or the application is withdrawn or has lapsed, whichever occurs first or, if such application is granted, until such time as a registration certificate is issued in respect of such renewal or, as the case may be, a mineral deposit retention licence or mining licence is issued in consequence of such application.

38. Applications for renewal of registration of mining claims

(1)Subject to the provisions of subsection (2) of this section, the provisions of sections 33, 34, 35 and 36 shall apply mutatis mutandis in relation to an application for the renewal of the registration of a mining claim.

(2)An application for the renewal of the registration of a mining claim shall be made not later than 90 days before the date on which the registration of such mining claim will lapse if it is not renewed or such later date, but not later than the date on which such registration will lapse, as the Commissioner may on good cause shown allow.

39. Transfer of mining claims, and grant, cession or assignment of interests in mining claims, and joinder of persons as joint holders of such mining claims or interests

(1)An application for the approval of the Minister for the transfer of a mining claim to any other person or for the grant, cession or assignment of an interest in any mining claim, or to be joined as a joint holder of a mining claim or such interest, shall be made to the Commissioner in such form as may be determined in writing by him or her and shall be accompanied by -

(a)an agreement in writing entered into between the holder of the mining claim and the person to whom such mining claim is to be transferred or to whom any interest in such mining claim is to be granted, ceded or assigned or the person to be joined as a joint holder of such mining claim or interest in which it is agreed to the satisfaction of the Minister that such transfer, grant, cession or assignment is, subject to the approval of the Minister, final;

(b)the registration certificate issued to the holder of such mining claim and a sketch-plan, in quadruplicate, of such mining claim bearing its ordinal number; and

(c)such application fee, if any, as may be determined under section 123.

(2)Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Minister may grant on such terms and conditions as may be determined in writing by him or her, or refuse to grant, an application referred to in subsection (1).

(3)The Minister shall not grant an application referred to in subsection (1) -

(a)if, at the time of the application, the holder of the mining claim is contravening any provision of this Act or any term and condition, direction or order determined, given or made under any provision of this Act or is failing to comply with any such provision, term and condition, direction or order;

(b)unless the person to whom the mining claim is to be transferred or an interest in such mining claim is to be granted, ceded or assigned or the person to be joined as a joint holder of such mining claim or interest is a person contemplated in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d) of subsection (1) of section 25.

(4)The Commissioner shall, upon the granting of an application referred to in subsection (1) -

(a)register the transfer of the mining claim or the grant, cession or assignment of an interest in a mining claim or joinder of a person as joint holder of such mining claim or such interest mutatis mutandis in accordance with the provisions of section 36, and shall thereupon issue mutatis mutandis in accordance with the provisions of section 36(1)(c) a new or other appropriate registration certificate in which such transfer, grant, cession, assignment or joinder is reflected; and

(b)notify mutatis mutandis in accordance with the provisions of section 36(1)(d) the owner of the land on which such mining claim is situated of the transfer of such mining claim or the grant, cession or assignment of an interest in such claim or the joinder of a joint holder of such mining claim or interest.

(5)The person to whom a mining claim has, in terms of the provisions of this section, been transferred shall, within 30 days as from the date on which a registration certificate has been issued to him or her, with due regard to the provisions of Part VI, substitute on every claim beacon of such mining claim his or her own peg for the peg of the person from whom such mining claim was transferred bearing, in addition to the particulars referred to in section 28(7), words indicating from whom and the date on which such claim was transferred.

(6)The transfer of a mining claim or the grant, cession or assignment of any interest in a mining claim or the joinder of a person as joint holder of such mining claim or interest shall not affect any legal proceedings instituted against the holder of such claim, and such legal proceedings shall be continued as if such transfer, grant, cession, assignment or joinder had not taken place.

(7)Where -

(a)any mining claim is transferred in accordance with the provisions of this Act;

(b)any interest in any mining claim is so granted, ceded or assigned; or

(c)any person is so joined as joint holder of such mining claim or interest,

all the rights, liabilities and obligations which vested in the holder of such mining claim on the date immediately before such transfer, grant, cession, assignment or joinder shall vest, as from the date of such transfer, grant, cession, assignment or joinder, in the person to whom such mining claim was so transferred or such interest was so granted, ceded or assigned or who was so joined, in so far as such mining claim was so transferred or such interest was so granted, ceded or assigned or such person was so joined.

(8)The provisions of subsection (7) shall not be construed as -

(a)limiting the right of, or preventing, any person to whom private land on which a mining claim is situated is transferred from, requiring from the holder of any such mining claim to enter into a new agreement contemplated in section 52(1)(a)(i); or

(b)in the absence of any such agreement, limiting the right of, or preventing, such holder to obtain an ancillary right as provided in section 110(4).

(9)Any holder of a mining claim who contravenes or fails to comply with the provisions of subsection (5) shall be guilty of an offence and liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding R1 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months.

40. Directions to holders of mining claims

(1)The provisions of section 57 shall apply mutatis mutandis in relation to a mining claim.

(2)In the application of the provisions of section 57 -

(a)any reference to the Minister, shall be construed as a reference to the Commissioner;

(b)any reference to the holder of a mineral licence, shall be construed as a reference to a holder of a mining claim; and

(c)any reference to reconnaissance operations shall be deemed to have been deleted.

(3)

(a)The Commissioner may at any time -

(i)by notice in writing addressed and delivered to the holder of a mining claim require such holder to furnish the Commissioner within such period as may be determined by him or her in such notice of the longitude and latitude co-ordinates of each corner beacon of such claim; or

(ii)cause the beacons of any mining claim to be surveyed and the longitude and latitude coordinates of such beacons to be determined,

and may enter such co-ordinates into the register referred to in section 36(2).

(b)Any holder of a mining claim referred to in paragraph (a) who fails to comply with a notice referred to in that paragraph shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding R8 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

41. General terms and conditions of registration of mining claims

(1)It shall be a term and condition of the registration of a mining claim that the holder of such mining claim shall -

(a)exercise any right granted to him or her in terms of the provisions of this Act reasonably and in such manner that the rights and interests of the owner of any land to which such mining claim relates are not adversely affected, except to the extent to which such owner is compensated;

(b)carry on, in accordance with the provisions of section 31, mining operations or prospecting operations in the claim area in accordance with good mining practices or good prospecting practices;

(c)maintain all beacons erected on such mining claim in such a condition that they at all times comply with the provisions of section 28(6) and (7);

(d)at the request of -

(i)the Commissioner;

(ii)the owner of the land on which such mining claim is situated;

(iii)the holder of a licence who desires to peg in terms of Part VI a claim adjoining such mining claim; or

(iv)the holder of an exclusive prospecting licence, a mineral deposit retention licence or a mining licence in respect of a prospecting area, a retention area or mining area, as the case may be, adjoining such mining claim,

point out all beacons erected on such mining claim upon payment of any expenses to be incurred by the holder of such mining claim or, if such beacons as shown on the sketch-plan referred to in section 33(2)(e) cannot readily be located on the land, free of charge;

(e)take all reasonable steps necessary to secure, in accordance with any applicable law, the safety, welfare and health of persons employed in such claim area, and to prevent or minimize any pollution of the environment;

(f)maintain, in accordance with any applicable law, in good condition and repair all accessory works in such claim area;

(g)remove from such claim area all structures, equipment and other goods not used or intended to be used in connection with mining operations and prospecting operations;

(h)take, in accordance with any applicable law, reasonable steps to warn persons who may from time to time be in the vicinity of any accessory works of the possible hazards resulting therefrom;

(i)give to the Commissioner notice of -

(i)the discovery of any mineral or group of minerals other than a mineral or group of minerals to which such mining claim relates;

(ii)the discovery, as defined in section 1 of the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act, 1991 (Act 2 of 1991), of petroleum,

within 30 days after such discovery; and

(j)in the case of a company, give to the Commissioner notice of any change of -

(i)the name of such company;

(ii)the registered address and principal place of business of the company in Namibia;

(iii)the directors of the company;

(iv)the share capital of the company;

(v)the beneficial owner of more than five per cent of the shares issued by such company,

within 30 days as from such change.

(k)in the case of a natural person, give to the Commissioner notice of any change of the address of such person within 30 days as from such change.

(2)

(a)If the holder of a mining claim referred to in subsection (1) fails to comply with the provisions of that subsection, the Commissioner may at any time by notice in writing addressed and delivered to such holder, direct such holder to take, within the period specified in such notice, such steps as may be so specified.

(b)A holder referred to in paragraph (a) who contravenes or fails to comply with a direction given under that paragraph shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding R8 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

(c)If the holder referred to in paragraph (a) fails to take to the satisfaction of the Commissioner the steps specified in the notice so referred to within the period specified in such notice or such further period as the Commissioner may on good cause shown allow, the Commissioner may cause such steps to be taken, and recover in a competent court the costs incurred thereby from such holder.

(3)The Commissioner may cause any beacons pointed out in terms of paragraph (d) of subsection (1) to be surveyed and may enter the longitude and latitude co-ordinates of such beacons so determined into the register referred to in section 36(2).

42. Work programmes of prospecting operations and mining operations

(1)The holder of a mining claim who is, by virtue of the terms and conditions of registration of such mining claim, required to carry on, within a particular period and in accordance with a work programme, certain mining operations, prospecting operations or other operations referred to in paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of section 31, or to expend certain expenditure, shall furnish the Commissioner on such date or dates as may be determined by the Commissioner and made known by notice in writing addressed and delivered to such holder, with particulars of such mining operations, prospecting operations, other operations or expenditure.

(2)The Minister may, on application made to him or her by the holder of a mining claim, by notice in writing addressed and delivered to such holder, amend any work programme or expenditure referred to in subsection (1) in accordance with proposals contained in such application or to such extent as the Minister may deem appropriate.

(3)The holder of a mining claim who contravenes or fails to comply with the requirements of a work programme referred to in subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding R8 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

43. Abandonment of mining claims

(1)The holder of a mining claim may abandon such mining claim by notice in writing addressed and delivered to the Commissioner and shall together with such notice return the registration certificate of such claim, whereupon -

(a)the Commissioner shall -

(i)cancel such registration certificate;

(ii)make an entry to that effect in the register of mining claims referred to in section 36(2);

(iii)notify the person who was the holder of such mining claim that such registration certificate has been cancelled; and

(iv)notify the owner of the land on which such claim was situated of such abandonment and provide such owner with a sketch-plan of such mining claim referred to in section 33(2)(e); and

(b)such mining claim shall be deemed to have been abandoned on the date on which such registration certificate has been cancelled as provided in subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a).

(2)If a mining claim is abandoned as contemplated in subsection (1), the holder of such such mining claim shall -[The word “such” is repeated unnecessarily here.]

(a)within 30 days as from the date of the cancellation of the registration certificate as provided in subsection (1), remove all beacons erected by him or her on such claim and, in the case of a beacon used as a joint beacon, his or her peg and beacon plate without causing damage to any other part of such beacon;

(b)demolish any accessory works erected or constructed by such person in the claim area to which the mining claim related, except in so far as the owner of the land retains such accessory works on such terms and conditions as may mutually be agreed upon between such owner and person, and remove from such land all debris and any other object brought onto such land; and

(c)take all such steps as may be necessary to remedy to the reasonable satisfaction of the Minister any damage caused by any prospecting operations and mining operations carried on by such holder to the surface of, and the environment on, the land in the claim area in question.

(3)The abandonment of a mining claim shall not affect any legal proceedings instituted against such holder or any obligation or liability of such holder in terms of the provisions of this Act.

(4)Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with the provisions of subsection (2) shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding R8 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

44. Cancellation of registration of mining claims

(1)The provisions of section 55 shall apply mutatis mutandis in relation to the cancellation of the registration of any mining claim.

(2)For purposes of the application of section 55, as applied by subsection (1) of this section -

(a)any reference to the Minister, shall be construed as a reference to the Commissioner;

(b)any reference to the holder of a mineral licence, shall be construed as a reference to the holder of a mining claim; and

(c)any reference to a mineral licence, shall be construed as a reference to the registration of a mining claim.

45. Records, maps, plans and financial statements to be kept, and information, reports and returns to be submitted, by holders of mining claims

(1)The holder of a mining claim -

(a)shall keep at an address in Namibia a proper record in such form as may be determined in writing by the Commissioner in relation to -

(i)any mining operations referred to in section 31(1)(a) -

(aa)the nature, appraisal and results of all mining operations carried on in the claim area to which such mining claim relates;

(bb)the nature and mass or volume of any mineral or group of minerals won or mined on such mining claim and treated or stockpiled on such mining claim or elsewhere;

(cc)the nature, mass or volume and value of any mineral or group of minerals so won or mined, sold or otherwise disposed of and the full names and address of any person to whom such mineral or group of minerals was sold or otherwise disposed of;

(dd)the nature and mass or volume of any waste removed from such mining claim and the manner in which it was disposed of;

(ee)the persons employed by such holder for purposes of such mining operations, including the full names, addresses, nationality and ages of, and remuneration and other benefits paid and granted to such persons;

(ff)the unit operating and off-mine costs incurred;

(gg)the expenses incurred by such holder in the course of such mining operations; and

(hh)such other work carried on in the course of such mining operations as may be determined by the Commissioner and specified by notice in writing addressed and delivered to such holder; and

(ii)any prospecting operations referred to in section 31(1)(b) -

(aa)the nature, location and results of all prospecting operations carried on by such holder, and the interpretation and assessment of such operations;

(bb)the nature and mass or volume of any mineral or group of minerals found or incidentally won in the course of such prospecting operations;

(cc)the persons employed by such holder for purposes of such prospecting operations, including the full names, addresses, nationality and ages of, and remuneration and other benefits paid and granted to such persons;

(dd)the expenses incurred by such holder in the course of such prospecting operations; and

(ee)such other work carried on in the course of such prospecting operations as may be determined by the Commissioner and specified by notice in writing addressed and delivered to such holder,

and shall retain such records for a period of not less than three years;

(b)shall prepare or cause to be prepared and maintain at all times plans and maps in respect of the claim area;

(c)shall prepare, in respect of each year of assessment, as defined in section 1 of the Income Tax Act, 1981 (Act 24 of 1981), of such holder during the registration of such mining claim, a statement of income and expenditure derived or incurred in connection with any prospecting operations and mining operations on such mining claim, including a balance sheet and profit and loss account, and such other financial statements as the Commissioner may require in such form as the Commissioner may determine;

(d)shall submit within 15 days after the end of each month or such longer period as the Commissioner may, on good cause shown, determine in writing during the currency of the registration of such mining claim to the Commissioner in such form as may be so determined by the Commissioner a return or returns containing in relation to such month or period -

(i)such summary of the particulars and information contained in the records referred to in paragraph (a)(i), excluding item (ff) thereof, as may be required by the Commissioner and indicated in such form or requested by the Commissioner by notice in writing addressed and delivered to such holder; and

(ii)such other particulars as the Commissioner may require in relation to the prospecting operations and mining operations carried on by such holder on such mining claim;

(e)shall submit within 60 days after 31 December in each year to the Commissioner in such form as may be determined in writing by the Commissioner -

(i)a return containing in relation to such year -

(aa)a summary of the particulars and information contained in the records referred to in paragraph (a)(i) as may be required by the Commissioner and indicated in such form or otherwise requested by the Commissioner by notice in writing addressed and delivered to such holder;

(bb)an estimate of the remaining mineral reserves in such mining claim properly illustrated by way of plans and maps according to an appropriate scale;

(cc)particulars of any proposed mining operations during the succeeding year, together with a forecast of the source of such mining operations in terms of delineated mineral reserves; and

(dd)such other particulars as the Commissioner may require in relation to the prospecting operations and mining operations carried on by such holder on such mining claim;

(ii)the statement of income and expenditure and financial statements referred to in paragraph (c); and

(f)shall submit, together with an application referred to in section 31(1)(b)(i) or an application for the renewal of the registration of a mining claim referred to in section 38 in respect of the whole of the claim area or an application for a mineral deposit retention licence or a mining licence in respect of the whole or any portion of the mining claim, to the Commissioner in such form as may be determined in writing by the Commissioner -

(i)a report in duplicate or, in the case where application is made for a mineral deposit retention licence or a mining licence in respect of a portion of the mining claim, separate reports in duplicate in respect of such portion and the remainder of such claim area, containing in relation to the period immediately before the date of such application, reckoned from the date of registration of such mining claim or the date of renewal of such registration, as the case may be -

(aa)all information in the records referred to in paragraph (a) and the plans and geological maps referred to in paragraph (b);

(bb)an estimate of the remaining mineral reserves in such mining claim properly illustrated by way of plans and maps according to an appropriate scale; and

(cc)such other particulars as the Commissioner may require in relation to the prospecting operations carried on by such holder; and

(ii)the statement of income and expenditure and financial statements referred to in paragraph (c) in relation to the period, immediately before the date of such application, reckoned from the date of registration of such mining claim or the date on which the last such statements have been submitted in terms of paragraph (e)(ii).

(2)In the event of the cancellation of the registration of a mining claim under section 44 or the lapsing of such registration, the person who was the holder of such mining claim immediately before such cancellation or lapsing shall on a date not later than one month after the date of such cancellation or lapsing deliver to the Commissioner -

(a)all records kept in terms of the provisions of subsection (1)(a);

(b)all maps and plans referred to in subsection (1)(b);

(c)all reports, photographs, tabulations, tapes and discs prepared by or on behalf of such person in the course of any prospecting operations and mining operations carried on in such mining claim; and

(d)such other books, documents, records and reports as the Commissioner may require by notice in writing addressed and delivered to such person,

or copies of such records, maps, plans, reports, photographs, tabulations, tapes, discs, books and documents, unless a mineral deposit retention licence or a mining licence is issued to such person in relation to the area to which such mining claim related with effect from the date following on the date of such cancellation or lapsing or such later date as the Commissioner may on good cause shown allow.

(3)If the holder referred to in subsection (2) fails to comply with the provisions of that subsection the Commissioner may mutatis mutandis in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 2 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 (Act 51 of 1977) -

(a)enter upon any premises whatsoever and search for the records, maps and plans, reports, photographs, tabulations, tapes, discs, books and documents referred to in paragraphs (a) to (d) of subsection (2);

(b)seize any such records, maps and plans, reports, photographs, tabulations, tapes, discs, books and documents,

as if he or she were a police official referred to in that Act and such records, maps and plans, reports, photographs, tabulations, tapes, discs, books and documents were concerned in the commission of any offence.

(4)Any person referred to in subsection (1) or (2) who contravenes or fails to comply with the provisions of that subsection shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding R8 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

Part VIII – General provisions relating to mineral licences

46. Persons who may apply for, or for transfer of, mineral licences or for approval to grant, cede or assign interests in such licences or to be joined as joint holders of such licences or interests

Subject to the provisions of this Act, a mineral licence shall not be granted or transferred or any interest in such mineral licence be granted, ceded or assigned to any person other than -

(a)a company; or

(b)a Namibian citizen who has reached the age of 18 years and who, in the opinion of the Minister, is a fit and proper person to hold such licence,

and no person other than such person shall be joined as a joint holder of any such mineral licence or interest.

47. Applications for, or for renewal or transfer of, mineral licences, or for approval for grant, cession or assignment of interests in mineral licences or to be joined as joint holders of such mineral licences or interests

(1)Subject to the provisions of this Act, an application for -

(a)a mineral licence or the renewal thereof;

(b)the amendment of a mineral licence; or

(c)the approval of the Minister for the transfer of a mineral licence, or the grant, cession or assignment of any interest in any mineral licence, or to be joined as a joint holder of a mineral licence or such interest,

shall be made to the Minister in such form as may be determined in writing by the Commissioner and shall be accompanied by such application fee and such licence fee as may be payable in respect of the licence period or first licence period, as the case may be, of such licence as may be determined under section 123.

(2)Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Minister -

(a)may grant on such terms and conditions as may be determined in writing by him or her, or refuse to grant, an application referred to in subsection (1); or

(b)shall grant an application for the transfer of a mineral licence referred to in paragraph (c) of subsection (1) where such mineral licence is to be transferred from a company which is the holder of such mineral licence to a company which is controlling, controlled by or under common control with such holder, if the Minister is on reasonable grounds satisfied that such holder is not contravening or failing to comply with the terms and conditions of such licence or any other mineral licence held by it or any provision of this Act.

(3)The provisions of section 39(6), (7) and (8) shall apply mutatis mutandis in relation to the transfer of a mineral licence or the granting, cession or assignment of any interest in a mineral licence or the joinder of a person as a joint holder of such mineral licence or interest.

48. Powers of Minister in respect of applications for, or for renewal or transfer of, mineral licences or for approval for grant, cession or assignment of interests in mineral licences, or to be joined as joint holders of such mineral licences or interests

(1)The Minister may at any time after the receipt of any application referred to in section 47 require the person concerned by notice in writing -

(a)to furnish him or her within such reasonable period as may be specified in such notice with -

(i)such information specified in such notice as the Minister may in his or her discretion deem necessary to enable him or her to determine who, in the case of a company, has the controlling interest in the affairs of the company; and

(ii)such other information so specified as the Minister may in his or her discretion deem necessary for purposes of considering such application;

(b)to publish particulars of the application in relation to -

(i)the full names of such person; and

(ii)the area, the kind of mineral licence and the mineral or group of minerals to which such application relates,

in such manner as may be specified in such notice;

(c)to give the particulars of the application -

(i)referred to in paragraph (b);

(ii)relating to the condition of, and any existing damage to, the environment in the area to which the application relates;

(iii)relating to an estimate of the effect which the proposed prospecting operations or mining operations, as the case may be, may have on the environment and the proposed steps to be taken in order to prevent or minimize such effect,

in such manner and to such person or persons as may be specified in such notice.

(2)In order to enable the Minister to consider any application referred to in section 47 the Minister may -

(a)cause such investigations to be made or undertaken as the Minister may in his or her discretion deem necessary;

(b)require the person concerned by notice in writing -

(i)to carry out or cause to be carried out such environmental impact studies as may be specified in the notice;

(ii)to furnish the Minister within such period as may be specified in such notice with such proposals, by way of alteration to or in addition to proposals set out in the application, as may be so specified.

(3)In considering any application referred to in section 47 and the terms and conditions subject to which such application may be granted, the Minister shall take into account the need to conserve and protect the natural resources in, on or under the land to which the application relates and in, on or under adjoining or neighbouring land.

(4)If the Minister is, after having considered an application referred to in section 47, prepared to grant the application subject to certain terms and conditions, he or she shall direct that notice be given to the person concerned in which the terms and conditions, in addition to the terms and conditions referred to in section 50, are set out on which he or she is prepared to grant such application.

(5)The person referred to in subsection (4) may, within one month as from the date of that notice or such further period as the Minister may on good cause shown allow in writing, agree in writing to accept such terms and conditions or such other terms and conditions as may be agreed upon.

(6)If the person making an application referred to in section 47 fails -

(a)to comply with the requirements of any notice referred to in subsection (1) or (2)(b); or

(b)to agree as contemplated in subsection (5),

within the period specified in such notice or such further period as the Minister may on good cause shown allow in writing, the application in question shall lapse on the expiration of such period.

49. Mineral agreements

(1)The Minister may, before a mineral licence is issued and at the request of the person making an application referred to in section 47, enter into an agreement not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act with such person containing the terms and conditions agreed upon as provided in section 48(4) and (5) on which such mineral licence will be issued.

(2)A mineral agreement -

(a)shall contain the full names and address of the person concerned and, in the case of a company, particulars of its incorporation and registration as a company, the registered address and principal place of business of the company in Namibia, the full names and nationality of the directors of the company, the share capital of the company and the full names and nationality of any person who is the beneficial owner of more than five per cent of the shares issued by such company; or

(b)may include terms and conditions relating to -

(i)minimum reconnaissance operations, prospecting operations or mining operations to be carried on and the time table determined for purposes of such operations;

(ii)the minimum expenditure in respect of reconnaissance operations, prospecting operations or mining operations;

(iii)the formation of joint ventures or the operation of production sharing or other joint arrangements;

(iv)the participation, including the acquisition of equity share capital, by the State or any other person in any ventures or arrangements referred to in subparagraph (iii);

(v)the manner in which reconnaissance operations, prospecting operations or mining operations shall be carried out;

(vi)the processing, whether wholly or partly, within Namibia of any mineral or group of minerals found, won or mined by the holder of a mineral licence in the course of any prospecting operations or mining operations;

(vii)the basis on which the market value of any mineral or group of minerals in question may from time to time be determined;

(viii)the utilization of any profits derived by the holder of a mineral licence from any reconnaissance operations, prospecting operations or mining operations carried on under such mineral licence;

(ix)guarantees to ensure the due and proper performance of the liabilities and obligations under a mineral licence;

(x)financial and insurance arrangements;

(xi)the application of any of the fiscal laws in force in Namibia;

(xii)arbitration in the event of any dispute which may arise in the application of any term and condition contained in such agreement, whether in terms of the provisions of the Arbitration Act, 1965 (Act 42 of 1965), or by way of any international arbitration tribunal specified in such agreement;

(xiii)co-ordination of prospecting operations or mining operations to be carried on by the person concerned in terms of a mineral licence with any prospecting operations or mining operations carried on by any other holder of a mineral licence in any neighbouring prospecting area or mining area.

(3)Any term and condition contained in an agreement referred to in subsection (1) which is inconsistent with any provision of this Act shall, to the extent it is so inconsistent, be null and void.

(4)Nothing contained in an agreement referred to in subsection (1) shall be construed as absolving any party thereto from any requirement laid down by law or from applying for, and obtaining, any permit, licence, approval, permission or other document required by law.

50. General terms and conditions of mineral licences

In addition to any term and condition contained in a mineral agreement and any term and condition contained in any mineral licence, it shall be a term and condition of any mineral licence that the holder of such mineral licence shall -

(a)exercise any right granted to him or her in terms of the provisions of this Act reasonably and in such manner that the rights and interests of the owner of any land to which such licence relates are not adversely affected, except to the extent to which such owner is compensated;

(b)in the employment of employees, give preference to Namibian citizens who possess appropriate qualifications, expertise and experience for purposes of the operations to be carried on in terms of such mineral licence;

(c)carry out training programmes in order to encourage and promote the development of Namibian citizens employed by such holder;

(d)with due regard to the need to ensure technical and economic efficiency, make use of products or equipment manufactured or produced, and services available, within Namibia;

(e)co-operate with other persons involved in the mining industry in order to enable such citizens to develop skills and technology to render services in the interest of that industry in Namibia;

(f)prepare in such form as may be determined in writing by the Commissioner for the approval of the Commissioner -

(i)an environmental impact assessment indicating the extent of any pollution of the environment before any prospecting operations or mining operations are being carried out and an estimate of any pollution, if any, likely to be caused by such prospecting operations or mining operations;

(ii)if any pollution is likely to be so caused, an environmental management plan indicating the proposed steps to be taken in order to minimize or prevent to the satisfaction of the Commissioner any pollution of the environment in consequence of any prospecting operations or mining operations carried on by virtue of such mineral licence;

(g)from time to time as circumstances change to revise such environmental management plan either out of his or her own motion or if required by the Commissioner;

(h)in the case of a company, give to the Commissioner notice of any change of -

(i)the name of such company;

(ii)the registered address and principal place of business of the company in Namibia;

(iii)the directors of the company;

(iv)the share capital of the company;

(v)the beneficial owner of more than five per cent of the shares issued by such company,

within 30 days as from such change.

(i)in the case of a natural person, give to the Commissioner notice of any change of the address of such person within 30 days as from such change.

51. Register of mineral licences

(1)The Commissioner shall keep and maintain a register of mineral licences in such form as may be determined in writing by the Commissioner in which shall be recorded in respect of every mineral licence issued -

(a)the full names and such other particulars of the holder and joint holder of a mineral licence or interest in such mineral licence in whose name such mineral licence has been issued or to whom such mineral licence or interest has been transferred or to whom an interest in such mineral licence has been granted, ceded or assigned as may be determined in writing by the Commissioner and, in the case of a holder or joint holder of a mineral licence who is resident outside Namibia, the full names and address of his or her accredited agent;

(b)the date on which such mineral licence has been issued or transferred or any interest in such mineral licence has been granted, ceded or assigned or a person has been joined as joint holder of such mineral licence or interest;

(c)the date on which such mineral licence has been renewed and the date on which such mineral licence will lapse in terms of the provisions of this Act;

(d)the nature of such mineral licence;

(e)particulars of the area of land to which such mineral licence relates;

(f)the mineral or group of minerals in respect of which such mineral licence has been issued;

(g)particulars of any permissions granted under any provision of this Act in relation to such mineral licence;

(h)the date on which such mineral licence is cancelled in terms of section 55;

(i)particulars of any agreement or ancillary right referred to in section 52(1)(a); and

(j)such other particulars as may in the opinion of the Commissioner be necessary for purposes of carrying out the provisions of this Act to effect an efficient system of registration of mineral licences and any interests in such mineral licences.

(2)A copy of any mineral licence issued in terms of this Act and the register referred to in subsection (1) shall during ordinary office hours be open for inspection by any person free of charge, and any person may on payment of such fee as may be determined under section 123 obtain copies of such mineral licence or extracts from such register.

(3)A person who fraudulently -

(a)makes or causes to be made any entry in the register referred to in subsection (1) which is false;

(b)prepares or submits any extract of an entry in such register which is false or causes such an extract to be prepared or submitted,

shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction liable to a fine not exceeding R8 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

52. Restrictions on exercise of rights by holders of mineral licences

(1)The holder of a mineral licence shall not exercise any rights conferred upon such holder by this Act or under any terms and conditions of such mineral licence -

(a)in, on or under any private land until such time as such holder -

(i)has entered into an agreement in writing with the owner of such land containing terms and conditions relating to the payment of compensation, or the owner of such land has in writing waked any right to such compensation and has submitted a copy of such agreement or waiver to the Commissioner; or

(ii)has been granted an ancillary right as provided in section 110(4) to exercise such rights on such land;

(b)in, on or under any -

(i)town or village;

(ii)land comprising a proclaimed road, including such parts adjoining such road as may in terms of any law governing such road be regarded as the road reserve, aerodrome, harbour, railway or cemetery; or

(iii)land used or reserved for any governmental or public purpose,

and otherwise in conflict with any law, if any, in terms of which such town, village, road, aerodrome, harbour, railway, cemetery or land has been established, erected, constructed or is otherwise regulated, without the prior permission of the Minister granted, upon an application to the Minister in such form as may be determined in writing by the Commissioner, by notice in writing and subject to such conditions as may be specified in such notice;

(c)in, on or under any land in respect of which no person other than the holder of a reconnaissance licence is, by virtue of a notice issued in terms of section 122, entitled to carry on any prospecting operations or mining operations;

(d)in, on or under any private or State land -

(i)used as a garden, orchard, vineyard, nursery, plantation or which is otherwise under cultivation;

(ii)within a horizontal distance of 100 metres of any spring, well, borehole, reservoir, dam, dipping-tank, waterworks, perennial stream or pan, artificially constructed watercourse, kraal, building or any structure of whatever nature;

(iii)within a horizontal distance of 300 metres from any point on the nearest boundary of any erf, as defined in section 1 of the Townships and Division of Land Ordinance, 1963 (Ordinance 11 of 1963), if such erf has been surveyed for the purpose of inclusion in a township as defined in that section; or

(iv)on which accessory works were erected or constructed under this Act and which existed at the time of the issue of the mineral licence in question,

without the prior permission in writing of the owner of such land, and, in the case of land referred to in subparagraph (iv), of the holder of a mineral licence who has erected or constructed such accessory works on which it is proposed to exercise such right;

(e)in, on or under any land subject to a production licence, as defined in section 1 of the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act, 1991 (Act 2 of 1991), which existed at the time of the issue of the licence in question, without the prior permission in writing of the holder of the production licence concerned; and

(f)which in any way will interfere with fishing or marine navigation, without the prior permission of the Minister granted, upon an application to the Minister in such form as may be determined in writing by the Commissioner, by notice in writing and subject to such conditions as may be specified in such notice.

(2)When, in the course of any prospecting operations or mining operations in any prospecting area, mining area or retention area, as the case may be, any damage is caused or done to the surface of any land or to any water source, cultivation, building or other structure therein or thereon as a result of such operations, the holder of the mineral licence in question shall be liable to pay compensation to the owner of the land, water source, cultivation, building or other structure, as the case may be, in relation to which such damage has been caused or done.

(3)When a dispute arises between the holder of a mineral licence and the owner referred to in subsection (2) in relation to the liability for, or the amount of, compensation payable under that subsection, such holder or owner, or such holder and owner, may make application in writing to the Commission to have the matter determined as provided in section 110.

(4)The provisions of subsection (3) shall not be construed as prohibiting an owner referred to in the said subsection (3) or an authority administering land from instituting civil proceedings in any competent court against the holder of a mineral licence for the payment of compensation in respect of any damage referred to in the said subsection (2).

(5)When the owner of land or any authority administering land on which prospecting operations or mining operations are being carried on in an application to the Minister -

(a)states that such operations prevent the proper use of the land wholly or partly for farming purposes; and

(b)requests that the holder of the mineral licence concerned carrying on such operations be required to purchase so much of the land as cannot be so used,

the Minister may, if he or she is on reasonable grounds satisfied that such operations prevent the land from being so used, by notice in writing addressed and delivered to such holder, direct such holder to purchase so much of the land as cannot be so used on such conditions as may be specified in such notice, and shall notify the owner of the land in question accordingly.

(6)When the holder of a mineral licence and the owner of land or an authority administering land are unable to agree on the price to be paid for land to which a direction under subsection (5) relates, the price and mode of payment shall be fixed by arbitration.

(7)Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with the provisions of subsection (1) or any direction referred to in subsection (5) shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction liable to a fine not exceeding R8 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

53. Drilling of boreholes

(1)Any holder of a mineral licence shall not drill in connection with any prospecting operations or mining operations any borehole or boreholes from the surface of any land or resume the drilling of any such borehole or boreholes which has been discontinued for a period of more than three months, unless such holder has given the Commissioner notice in such form as may be determined in writing by the Commissioner of such holder’s intention to so drill any such borehole or boreholes.

(2)A holder of a mineral licence referred to in subsection (1) shall, at the request in writing of the Commissioner and within such period as may be so determined by him or her, furnish the Commissioner with a report in such form as may be so determined by the Commissioner, containing particulars relating to -

(a)the location, direction and depth of such borehole;

(b)the geological formations through which such borehole was drilled:

(c)the widths and assay values of any mineral or group of minerals intersected in such borehole; and

(d)such other information as the Commissioner may require.

(3)A holder of a mineral licence referred to in subsection (1) or a person who was at any time such a holder shall not destroy or dispose of or cause to be destroyed or disposed of any borehole core or other material derived from any borehole referred to in that subsection except -

(a)with the prior approval in writing of the Commissioner; or

(b)in so far as it is reasonably necessary to destroy such core or material in the course of any analytical or metallurgical testing.

(4)

(a)The Commissioner may by notice in writing addressed and delivered to the holder or person referred to in subsection (3) require such holder or person to deliver to the Commissioner in such manner as may be specified in such notice at such holder’s or person’s own costs -

(i)in the case of any such holder, in the course of drilling operations, any borehole core or other material referred to in subsection (3) or any sample of such borehole core or other material; or

(ii)in the case of any such holder or person, after the completion of drilling operations any borehole core, other material or sample so referred to or any part thereof.

(b)The Commissioner shall -

(i)issue a receipt in respect of any borehole core, other material or sample thereof delivered in terms of paragraph (a); and

(ii)upon any claim received from the holder of a mineral licence or person referred to in paragraph (a) other than a holder or person who has applied for or obtained the approval contemplated in subsection (3)(a), return such borehole core, other material or sample to such holder or person, or pay to such holder or person an amount equal to the market value of any such borehole core, other material or sample.

(5)Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with the provisions of this section or any notice referred to in subsection (4) shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction liable to a fine not exceeding R8 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

54. Abandonment of reconnaissance areas, prospecting areas, retention areas and mining areas

(1)The holder of a mineral licence may abandon the reconnaissance area, prospecting area, retention area or mining area to which such licence relates by notice in writing addressed and delivered to the Commissioner and shall together with such notice return such mineral licence, whereupon -

(a)the Commissioner shall -

(i)cancel such mineral licence;

(ii)make an entry to that effect in the register of mineral licences referred to in section 51 ;

(iii)notify the person who was the holder of such mineral licence that such mineral licence has been cancelled; and

(iv)notify the owner of the land on which such area was situated of such abandonment; and

(b)such area shall be deemed to have been abandoned on the date on which such mineral licence has been cancelled as provided in subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a).

(2)If a reconnaissance area, prospecting area, retention area or mining area is abandoned as provided in subsection (1), the holder of the mineral licence to which such area relates shall -

(a)demolish any accessory works erected or constructed by such person in such area, except in so far as the owner of the land retains such accessory works on such conditions as may mutually be agreed upon between such owner and person, and remove from such land all debris and any other object brought onto such land;

(b)take all such steps as may be necessary to remedy to the reasonable satisfaction of the Minister any damage caused by any prospecting operations and mining operations carried on by such holder to the surface of, and the environment on, the land in the area in question.

(3)The abandonment of a reconnaissance area, prospecting area, retention area or mining area shall not affect any legal proceedings instituted against such holder or any obligation or liability of such holder in terms of the provisions of this Act.

55. Cancellation of mineral licences

(1)Subject to the provisions of section 56 and subsections (2) and (3) of this section, the Minister may by notice in writing addressed and delivered to the holder of a mineral licence, cancel the mineral licence of such holder or, in the case of two or more persons who are the joint holders of such mineral licence or interest, cancel the mineral licence in respect of any one or more of such holders, if -

(a)any such holder fails to comply with the terms and conditions of such mineral licence or of the provisions of this Act;

(b)in the case of a company, such company is wound up in terms of the provisions of the Companies Act, 1973 (Act 61 of 1973), unless such company has been wound up for purposes of an amalgamation or reconstruction, as contemplated in that Act, and has obtained the prior approval of the Minister for such amalgamation or reconstruction;[The Companies Act 61 of 1973 has been replaced by the Companies Act 28 of 2004.]

(c)in the case of a natural person, such person’s estate is sequestrated.

(2)The Minister shall not under subsection 1(a) cancel a mineral licence so referred to, unless -

(a)the Minister has by notice in writing informed the holder of such mineral licence of his or her intention to cancel such mineral licence -

(i)setting out particulars of the alleged failure; and

(ii)calling upon such holder to make such representations to the Minister as such holder may deem necessary or expedient within such period, but not less than 30 days as from the date of such notice, as may be specified in such notice;

(b)the Minister has considered -

(i)any steps taken by such holder to remedy the failure in question or to prevent any such failure from being repeated during the currency of the mineral licence; and

(ii)any other matters submitted to the Minister by way of the representations made under paragraph (a)(ii); and

(c)in the case of a holder of a mineral licence who has failed to pay any amount payable by such holder in terms of this Act or by virtue of the terms and conditions of the mineral licence in question, such holder has, before the date specified in the notice referred to in paragraph (a), paid any such amount, together with any interest payable in respect of such amount.

(3)The Minister may, on application in writing made to him or her by the holder of a mineral licence in such form as may be determined in writing by the Commissioner and on payment of such fee, if any, as may be determined under section 123, cancel by notice in writing any mineral licence.

(4)The cancellation of a mineral licence in terms of the provisions of this section shall not affect any liability or obligation incurred in relation to anything done under or by virtue of the terms and conditions of such mineral licence.

56. Vis major

(1)Any failure by the holder of a mineral licence to comply with any term and condition of such mineral licence or any provision of this Act shall not be regarded as being a failure to comply with such term and condition or provision in so far as such holder was prevented from complying with such term and condition or provision due to an act of war, hostility or insurrection or an act of God.

(2)The holder of a mineral licence who is prevented from complying with a term and condition or provision as contemplated in subsection (1) shall forthwith inform the Minister by notice in writing setting out particulars of the nature, extent and causes of such holder’s failure to comply with the term and condition of provision specified in such notice.

(3)The Minister may, on application made to him or her by the holder of a mineral licence referred to in subsection (2) who has been prevented from exercising any rights under such mineral licence for any period in the circumstances contemplated in subsection (1), extend by notice in writing on such conditions as may be so determined by the Minister the period for which the mineral licence in question has been issued, by such period as may be so determined by the Minister with due regard to the provisions of this Act relating to the period after which mineral licences of the nature of the mineral licence in question expire.

(4)The Minister may refuse any application referred to in subsection (3) if the holder of the mineral licence concerned could, by taking such reasonable steps as may have been available to such holder, have exercised such rights during that period.

(5)The provisions of this section shall not be construed as absolving any holder of a mineral licence from complying with any liability or obligation under a mineral licence or this Act to pay any royalties, annual charges, rent or fees.

57. Directions to holders of mineral licences

(1)The Minister may, with due regard to good reconnaissance practices, good prospecting practices or good mining practices by notice in writing addressed and delivered to the holder of a mineral licence, give directions to such holder in relation to -

(a)the carrying on of reconnaissance operations, prospecting operations and mining operations, including the erection or construction of any accessory works;

(b)the protection of the environment;

(c)the conservation of any natural resources, including mineral resources, and the prevention of the waste of such resources;

(d)the construction, erection, maintenance, operation or use of accessory works;

(e)the removal of accessory works or other goods erected, constructed or brought on land in connection with the prospecting for, or the mining or conveyance of, any mineral or group of minerals which is not used or intended to be used in connection with such prospecting, mining or conveyance;

(f)the discovery of any mineral or group of minerals;

(g)the taking, preservation and furnishing to the Commissioner of cores, cuttings or samples of any mineral or group of minerals obtained or which may be obtained in the course of reconnaissance operations, prospecting operations and mining operations;

(h)the submission to the Commissioner of reports, returns and other information,

and the Minister may, if such holder fails to comply, within such period as may be specified in such notice or such further period as the Minister may on good cause shown allow in writing, with such directions to the satisfaction of the Minister, cause such steps to be taken as may be necessary to comply with such directions, and may recover from such holder in a competent court the costs incurred in connection with the taking of such steps.

(2)Any holder of a mineral licence who contravenes or fails to comply with a notice issued under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding R8 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

Part IX – Provisions relating to reconnaissance licences

58. Rights of holders of reconnaissance licences

(1)Subject to the provisions of this Act, a reconnaissance licence shall authorize the holder of such licence -

(a)to carry on reconnaissance operations in the reconnaissance area to which such licence relates in respect of any mineral or group of minerals, whether or not a mineral licence has in terms of the provisions of this Act been issued to any other person or a mining claim has been registered in the name of any other person in respect of the land to which such reconnaissance licence relates;

(b)to carry on such other operations, including the erection or construction of accessory works, in such reconnaissance area as may be reasonably necessary for, or in connection with, any reconnaissance operations contemplated in paragraph (a).

(2)

(a)The holder of a reconnaissance licence shall not erect or construct any accessory works referred to in subsection (1)(b) without the prior permission in writing of the Commissioner.

(b)The Commissioner shall not grant the permission referred to in paragraph (a) in respect of accessory works to be erected or constructed on private land, unless the holder of the reconnaissance licence has complied with the provisions of section 52(1)(a) in relation to any compensation to be paid to the owner of such private land.

(3)The provisions of subsection (1) shall not be construed as -

(a)conferring on the holder of a reconnaissance licence any preferential right to any other licence during the currency or on expiry of such reconnaissance licence;

(b)preventing the Minister from granting any other licence in respect of any mineral or group of minerals or any area of land in the reconnaissance area to which such recon naissance licence relates; or

(c)preventing any other person from pegging, and the Commissioner from registering, a mining claim in such reconnaissance area during the currency of such reconnaissance licence.

59. Exclusive rights to carry on reconnaissance operations

(1)Subject to the provisions of subsection (2), the Minister may, on application by -

(a)a person applying for a reconnaissance licence, grant to such person a reconnaissance licence; or

(b)the holder of a reconnaissance licence, cause an endorsement to be made on such reconnaissance licence,

by virtue of which an exclusive right is conferred upon such person to carry on in the reconnaissance area to which such reconnaissance licence relates, reconnaissance operations in relation to any mineral or group of minerals specified in such licence, if the Minister is on reasonable grounds satisfied that the extent of the reconnaissance operations to be carried out and the expenditure to be incurred in or in relation to the reconnaissance area justifies the grant of such exclusive right.

(2)An exclusive right referred to in subsection (1) shall not be granted in respect of -

(a)any mining claim; or

(b)any area of land to which any other mineral licence, by virtue of which an exclusive right to carry on reconnaissance operations, prospecting operations or mining operations has been conferred, relates,

to carry on reconnaissance operations for the same mineral or group of minerals.

60. Applications for reconnaissance licences

An application by any person for a reconnaissance licence -

(a)shall contain -

(i)in the case of a natural person the full names, nationality, date of birth, postal and residential address of such person;

(iii)in the case of any person represented by an accredited agent, the full names and address of such accredited agent;

(b)shall be accompanied by a detailed plan of the area to which the application relates drawn according to scale of such area which shall not exceed two contiguous squares, each of which does not exceed one degree in longitude and one degree in latitude, indicating -

(i)its location with reference to magisterial districts; and

(ii)the extent of such area defined by reference to co-ordinate reference points;

(c)shall contain a concise geological description of the area of land and, in the case of an application for an exclusive right referred to in section 59, the mineral or group of minerals to which such application relates;

(d)shall contain particulars of -

(i)any licences issued in terms of this Act or any law repealed by this Act held by such person alone or jointly with any other person; and

(ii)any prospecting operations and mining operations carried on by such person alone or jointly with any other person outside Namibia,

on the date of such application and during a period of 10 years immediately preceding such date;

(e)shall contain particulars, substantiated by documentary proof or such other proof as may be required by the Commissioner, of the technical and financial resources of, or available to, such person to carry on the reconnaissance operations to which the application relates;

(f)shall contain particulars of -

(i)the programme of reconnaissance operations proposed to be carried on, the estimated expenditure in respect thereof and the period within which such operations will be carried on and such expenditure will be expended;

(ii)in the case of an application for an exclusive right referred to in section 59, the reasons for such application;

(g)shall be accompanied by such documents as the Minister may require in relation to any particulars referred to in this section; and

(h)may contain any other matter which in the opinion of the person concerned is relevant to the application.

61. Restrictions on grant of applications relating to reconnaissance licences

The Minister shall not grant an application for a reconnaissance licence -

(a)unless such person is a person referred to in section 46;

(b)if, at the time of the application, such person is contravening any provision of this Act or any term and condition, direction or order determined, given or made under any such provision or is failing to comply with any provision of this Act, term and condition, direction or order;

(c)unless the Minister is on reasonable grounds satisfied -

(i)with the programme of reconnaissance operations to be carried on or the expenditure to be expended in respect of such reconnaissance operations;

(ii)that the person concerned has the technical and financial resources to carry on such reconnaissance operations;

(d)in respect of an area of land in relation to a mineral or group of minerals in respect of which an exclusive right has, in terms of section 59, been conferred on any other holder of a reconnaissance licence.

62. Issue of reconnaissance licences

(1)Subject to subsections (4) and (5) of section 48, the Minister shall upon the granting of an application for a reconnaissance licence, direct the Commissioner to issue to the person who applied for such reconnaissance licence, a reconnaissance licence on such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon as provided in the said subsections.

(2)Subject to the provisions of subsection (1), a reconnaissance licence shall -

(a)state the full names and address of the holder of the reconnaissance licence and, in the case of such a holder who is resident outside Namibia, the full names and address of such holder’s accredited agent;

(b)state the date on which and the period for which such reconnaissance licence is issued;

(c)contain a diagram prepared by an officer employed in the Ministry of Mines and Energy and designated by the Permanent Secretary for that purpose of the area of land to which such reconnaissance licence relates containing geometrical or numerical depictions or any combination of such depiction and a description in words or symbols of such land;

(d)state the terms and conditions other than the terms and conditions referred to in section 50 subject to which such reconnaissance licence is issued;

(e)state the mineral or group of minerals in respect of which such reconnaissance licence is issued; and

(f)contain such other particulars as the Minister may, either generally or in any particular case, determine.

63. Duration of reconnaissance licences

(1)Subject to the provisions of this Act, a reconnaissance licence shall be valid for such period, not exceeding six months, as may be determined in writing by the Minister at the time of the granting of such licence.

(2)Subject to the provisions of subsection (3), a reconnaissance licence shall not be subject to renewal.

(3)The Minister may, on an application in writing made to him or her by the holder of a reconnaissance licence in such form as may be determined in writing by the Minister, extend such licence on one occasion for a period not exceeding six months if the Minister is on reasonable grounds satisfied that such holder has during the currency of such licence been prevented through no fault of such holder to fully carry on the reconnaissance operations authorized under such licence.

(4)Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1), but subject to the other provisions of this Act, a reconnaissance licence shall not expire during a period in which -

(a)an application referred to in subsection (3) by such holder;

(b)an application by such holder for an exclusive prospecting licence in respect of an area of land in the reconnaissance area to which such reconnaissance licence relates or any mineral or group of minerals in respect of which an exclusive right has been conferred on such holder to carry on reconnaissance operations,

is being considered, until such application is refused or the application is withdrawn or has lapsed, whichever occurs first or, if such application is granted, until such time as the reconnaissance licence is extended or the exclusive prospecting licence is issued, as the case may be, in consequence of such application.

64. Transfer of reconnaissance licences, and grant, cession or assignment of interests in such licences, and joinder of persons as joint holders of such licences or interests

A reconnaissance licence shall not be transferred and any interest in such licence shall not be granted, ceded or assigned to any other person, and no person shall be joined as a joint holder of such licence or interest.

65. Work programmes of reconnaissance operations

The provisions of section 42 shall apply mutatis mutandis in relation to the holder of a reconnaissance licence, and in such application -

(a)any reference to the holder of a mining claim, shall be construed as a reference to the holder of a reconnaissance licence;

(b)any reference to prospecting operations or mining operations, shall be construed as a reference to reconnaissance operations; and

(c)any reference to the registration of a mining claim, shall be construed as a reference to the issue of a reconnaissance licence.

66. Records, maps, plans and financial statements to be kept, and information, reports and returns to be submitted, by holders of reconnaissance licences

(1)The holder of a reconnaissance licence -

(a)shall keep at an address in Namibia a proper record in such form as may be determined in writing by the Commissioner in relation to -

(i)the location and nature of all photogeological studies, imaging and geophysical and other surveys carried on by such holder in the course of the reconnaissance operations carried on by him or her in the reconnaissance area to which such reconnaissance licence relates, and the results, interpretation and assessment of such studies and surveys;

(ii)the persons employed by such holder for purposes of such reconnaissance operations, including the names, addresses, nationality and ages of, and remuneration and other benefits paid and granted to such persons;

(iii)the expenses incurred by such holder in the course of such reconnaissance operations; and

(iv)such other work as may be determined by the Commissioner and specified by notice in writing addressed and delivered to such holder,

and shall retain such records for a period of not less than three years as from the expiry of such licence;

(b)shall prepare or cause to be prepared and maintain at all times plans and maps in respect of such reconnaissance area;

(c)shall prepare in respect of the period of the currency of such reconnaissance licence a statement of income and expenditure derived or incurred in connection with such reconnaissance operations in such reconnaissance area and such other financial statements as the Commissioner may require in such form as the Commissioner may determine; and

(d)shall submit, within 60 days after the end of the currency of such reconnaissance licence in respect of the whole of the reconnaissance area, or together with an application referred to in section 63(3) or an application for an exclusive prospecting licence or mining licence in respect of the whole or any portion of the reconnaissance area, to the Commissioner -

(i)in such form as may be determined in writing by the Commissioner, a report in duplicate or, in the case where an application is made for an exclusive prospecting licence or mining licence in respect of a portion of the reconnaissance area, separate reports in duplicate in respect of such portion and the remainder of such reconnaissance area, setting out in relation to such period -

(aa)an evaluation of the prospects of the discovery of any mineral or group of minerals in such reconnaissance area;

(bb)all information, including photographs, tabulations, tapes and discs, in the records referred to in paragraph (a) and the plans and maps referred to in paragraph (b); and

(cc)such other particulars as the Commissioner may require in relation to the reconnaissance operations carried on by such holder; and

(ii)the statement of income and expenditure and financial statements referred to in paragraph (c).

(2)In the event of the cancellation of a reconnaissance licence under section 55 the person who was the holder of such licence immediately before such cancellation shall on a date not later than 30 days after the date of such cancellation deliver to the Commissioner -

(a)all records kept in terms of the provisions of subsection (1)(a);

(b)all maps and plans referred to in subsection (1)(b);

(c)all reports, photographs, tabulations, tapes and discs prepared by or on behalf of such person in the course of such reconnaissance operations; and

(d)such other books, documents, records and reports as the Commissioner may require by notice in writing addressed and delivered to such person,

or copies of such records, maps, plans, reports, photographs, tabulations, tapes, discs, books and documents, unless an exclusive prospecting licence or a mining licence is issued to such person in relation to the area to which such reconnaissance licence related with effect from the date following on the date of such cancellation or lapsing or such later date as the Commissioner may on good cause shown allow.

(b)seize any such records, maps and plans, reports, photographs, tabulations, tapes, discs, books and documents,

(4)Any person referred to in subsection (1) or (2) who contravenes or fails to comply with the provisions of any such subsection shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding R8 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

Part X – Provisions relating to exclusive prospecting licences

67. Rights of holders of exclusive prospecting licences

(1)Subject to the provisions of subsection (2) and the other provisions of this Act, the holder of an exclusive prospecting licence shall be entitled -

(a)to carry on prospecting operations in the prospecting area to which such licence relates in respect of such mineral or group of minerals specified in such licence;

(iii)to remove any mineral or group of minerals, for purposes of sale or disposal, from any place where it was found or incidentally won in the course of such prospecting operations;

(iv)to sell or otherwise dispose of any such mineral or group of minerals;

(d)to carry on such other operations, including the erection or construction of accessory works, as may be reasonably necessary for, or in connection with, such prospecting operations or selling or disposal contemplated in paragraph (a), (b) or (c).

(2)The provisions of subsection (1) shall not be construed as -

(a)conferring on the holder of an exclusive prospecting licence any preferential right to any other licence in relation to any mineral or group of minerals, other than a mineral or group of minerals to which such exclusive prospecting licence relates, during the currency or on expiry of such exclusive prospecting licence;

(b)preventing the Minister from granting to -

(i)any other person in respect of the prospecting area to which such exclusive prospecting licence relates -

(aa)a reconnaissance licence in respect of any mineral or group of minerals;

(bb)a reconnaissance licence by virtue of which an exclusive right is conferred upon the holder of such licence to carry on reconnaissance operations in respect of any mineral or group of minerals other than the mineral or group of minerals to which such exclusive prospecting licence relates;

(cc)an exclusive prospecting licence, mining licence or mineral deposit retention licence in respect of any mineral or group of minerals other than the mineral or group of minerals to which such first-mentioned exclusive prospecting licence relates;

(ii)any other holder of an exclusive prospecting licence approval to peg a claim in respect of any mineral or group of minerals to which such other holder’s exclusive prospecting licence relates.

(3)

(a)The holder of an exclusive prospecting licence shall not erect or construct any accessory works referred to in subsection (1)(d) without the prior permission in writing of the Commissioner.

(b)The Commissioner shall not grant the permission referred to in paragraph (a) in respect of accessory works to be erected or constructed on private land, unless the holder of such exclusive prospecting licence has complied with the provisions of section 52(1)(a) in relation to any compensation to be paid to the owner of such private land.

(4)An application for the permission referred to in subsection (1)(c) or (3) shall be made to the Commissioner in such form as may be determined in writing by the Commissioner and shall be accompanied by such application fee, if any, as may be determined under section 123, together with such documents and information as may be required by the Commissioner.

(5)The holder of an exclusive prospecting licence who has removed, as contemplated in paragraph (b) of subsection (1), any mineral or group of minerals other than a controlled mineral or any sample of such mineral or group of minerals from the place where it was found or incidentally won, for any purpose other than for sale or disposal, to any place within Namibia, shall, except to the extent to which such holder has been exempted, under the provisions of section 137, from the provisions of this subsection, inform the Commissioner in writing of such removal, not later than 14 days or such longer period as the Commissioner may allow after such removal, and provide particulars of the nature of such sample, mineral or group of minerals and the place to which it has been so removed.

(6)

(a)The holder of an exclusive prospecting licence who has contravened or failed to comply with the provisions of subsection (1)(c), (3) or (5) shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction liable to a fine not exceeding R20 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

(b)If in any prosecution in terms of paragraph (a) of this subsection for the contravention or failure to comply with the provisions of subsection (1)(c)(iii), it is proved -

(i)that the holder referred to in that paragraph has removed any mineral or group of minerals from the prospecting area to which the exclusive prospecting licence relates;

(ii)that such holder has not obtained the permission of the Commissioner for the removal of such mineral or group of minerals as required by subsection (1)(c); and

(iii)that such holder has failed to inform the Commissioner of the removal of such mineral or group of minerals as provided in subsection (5),

it shall be presumed until the contrary is proved that such holder has removed such mineral or group of minerals for purposes of sale or disposal, as the case may be.

68. Applications for exclusive prospecting licences

An application by any person for an exclusive prospecting licence -

(a)shall contain -

(i)in the case of a natural person, the full names, nationality, date of birth, postal and residential address of such person;

(iii)in the case of any person represented by an accredited agent, the full names and address of such accredited agent;

(b)shall state the period for which such exclusive prospecting licence is required and the mineral or group of minerals to which such application relates;

(c)shall be accompanied by a detailed plan of the area to which the application relates drawn according to scale of such area which shall not exceed 100 000 hectares in extent indicating -

(i)its location with reference to magisterial districts;

(ii)the name and number of any farm situated therein; and

(iii)the extent of such area defined by reference to identifiable physical features or co-ordinate reference points;

(d)shall contain a concise geological description of the area of land and, in the case of an application by a person who is the holder of a reconnaissance licence in respect of the area to which the application relates, the report or separate reports referred to in section 66(1)(d);

(e)shall contain particulars of -

(i)any licence, including any mining claim, issued in terms of this Act or any law repealed by this Act held by such person alone or jointly with any other person and, in the case of the holder of a reconnaissance licence by virtue of which an exclusive right is conferred in section 59(2) in the area to which the application relates, the mineral or group of minerals to which such exclusive right relates; and

(ii)any prospecting operations and mining operations carried on by such person alone or jointly with any other person outside Namibia,

on the date of such application and during a period of 10 years immediately preceding such date;

(f)shall contain particulars of -

(i)the condition of, and any existing damage to, the environment in the area to which the application relates; and

(ii)an estimate of the effect which the proposed prospecting operations may have on the environment and the proposed steps to be taken in order to prevent or minimize any such effect;

(g)shall contain particulars, substantiated by documentary proof or such other proof as may be required by the Commissioner, of the technical and financial resources of, or available to, such person to carry on the prospecting operations to which the application relates;

(h)shall contain particulars of the programme of such prospecting operations, the estimated expenditure in respect thereof, the period within which such operations will be carried on and such expenditure will be expended;

(i)shall be accompanied by such documents as the Minister may require in relation to any particulars referred to in this section; and

(j)may contain any other matter which in the opinion of the person concerned is relevant to the application.

69. Exercise of powers by Minister to grant or refuse exclusive prospecting licences

(1)Subject to the provisions of this section, the Minister -

(a)shall, in the case of an application for an exclusive prospecting licence by the holder of a reconnaissance licence to whom an exclusive right has been conferred in terms of section 59, subject to the provisions of sections 48(4) and (5) and 49, grant such application if such application relates to an area of land and a mineral or group of minerals to which such exclusive right relates; or

(b)may, in the case of any other application for an exclusive prospecting licence, subject to the provisions of sections 48(4) and (5) and 49, grant or refuse such application.

(2)Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1), the Minister shall not grant an application by any person for an exclusive prospecting licence -

(a)unless such person is a person referred to in section 46;

(b)if, at the time of the application, such person is contravening any provision of this Act or any condition, direction or order determined, given or made under any such provision or is failing to comply with any such provision, condition, direction or order;

(c)unless the Minister is on reasonable grounds satisfied -

(i)with the proposed programme of prospecting operations or the proposed expenditure to be expended in respect of such operations;

(ii)that the person concerned has the technical and financial resources to carry on such prospecting operations;

(d)in respect of an area of land in relation to a mineral or group of minerals in respect of which an exclusive right has, in terms of section 59, been conferred on any holder of a reconnaissance licence;

(e)in respect of any claim area or mining area;

(f)in respect of any area of land to which an exclusive prospecting licence or a mineral deposit retention licence relates in relation to a mineral or group of minerals to which such exclusive prospecting licence or such mineral deposit retention licence relates;

(g)in respect of any prospecting area or retention area in relation to a mineral or group of minerals other than the mineral or group of minerals to which the exclusive prospecting licence or mineral deposit retention licence issued in respect of such areas relates, respectively, unless -

(i)such person has given notice in writing, not later than on the date on which such application is made, to the holder of the exclusive prospecting licence or mineral deposit retention licence to which such prospecting area or retention area, as the case may be, relates of his or her application or intended application, as the case may be, for such exclusive prospecting licence and has provided the Minister of proof in writing of having done so;

(ii)the Minister has afforded the holder referred to in subparagraph (i) a reasonable opportunity to make representations in relation to such application;

(iii)the Minister deems it, with due regard to representations made in terms of subparagraph (ii), if any, desirable in the interests of the development of the mineral resources of Namibia, to grant such licence; and

(iv)the Minister is on reasonable grounds satisfied that prospecting operations carried on by virtue of such licence will not detrimentally affect the rights of any holder of an exclusive prospecting licence or a mineral deposit retention licence, as the case may be, in respect of any such area.

70. Issue of exclusive prospecting licences

(1)Subject to subsections (4) and (5) of section 48, the Minister shall, upon the granting of an application for an exclusive prospecting licence, direct the Commissioner to issue to the person who applied for such licence, an exclusive prospecting licence on such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon as provided in the said subsections.

(2)The provisions of section 62 shall apply mutatis mutandis in relation to an exclusive prospecting licence.

71. Duration of exclusive prospecting licences

(1)Subject to the provisions of this Act, an exclusive prospecting licence shall be valid -

(a)for such period, not exceeding three years, as may be determined by the Minister at the time of the granting of such licence; and

(b)for such further periods, not exceeding two years at a time, as may be determined by the Minister at the time of the renewal of such licence as from the date on which such licence would have expired if an application for its renewal had not been made.

(2)An exclusive prospecting licence shall not be renewed on more than two occasions, unless the Minister deems it desirable in the interests of the development of the mineral resources of Namibia that an exclusive prospecting licence be renewed in any particular case on a third or subsequent occasion.

(3)Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1), but subject to the other provisions of this Act -

(a)an exclusive prospecting licence shall not expire during a period during which an application for the renewal of such licence is being considered, until such application is refused or the application is withdrawn or has lapsed, whichever occurs first or, if such application is granted, until such time as the exclusive prospecting licence is renewed in consequence of such application; or

(b)where an application is made by the holder of an exclusive prospecting licence for a mineral deposit retention licence or a mining licence in relation to an area of land which forms part of the prospecting area and in respect of any mineral or group of minerals to which such exclusive prospecting licence relates, such exclusive prospecting licence shall not expire in relation to such area of land and such mineral or group of minerals, until such application is refused or the application is withdrawn or has lapsed, whichever occurs first or, if such application is granted, until such time as the mineral deposit retention licence is issued in consequence of such application.

72. Applications for renewal of exclusive prospecting licences

(1)Subject to the provisions of subsection (2) of this section, the provisions of section 68 shall apply mutatis mutandis in relation to an application for the renewal of an exclusive prospecting licence.

(2)An application for the renewal of an exclusive prospecting licence shall -

(a)be made not later than 90 days before the date on which such licence will expire if it is not renewed or such later date, but not later than such expiry date, as the Minister may on good cause shown allow;

(b)not be made -

(i)in the case of a first application for the renewal of such licence, in respect of any land greater in extent than 75 per cent of the prospecting area in respect of which such licence has been issued; or

(ii)in the case of any other application for the renewal of such licence, in respect of any land greater in extent than 50 per cent of the prospecting area existing at the date of such application,

without the approval of the Minister, granted in the interest of the development of the mineral resources of Namibia and on good cause shown by the holder of the exclusive prospecting licence in question; and

(c)be accompanied by a report in duplicate containing the particulars contemplated in section 76(1)(e) prepared in respect of the immediately preceding period of the currency of such exclusive prospecting licence.

(3)Subject to the provisions of subsection (1), the Minister shall not grant an application for the renewal of an exclusive prospecting licence, unless the Minister is on reasonable grounds satisfied with the manner in which the programme of prospecting operations have been carried on or the expenditure expended in respect of such operations.

(4)The Minister shall not refuse to grant an application for the renewal of an exclusive prospecting licence -

(a)if the holder of such licence -

(i)has complied with all the terms and conditions of such licence;

(ii)has complied with the proposed programme of prospecting operations; and

(iii)has expended the expenditure in respect of such operations as in accordance with the terms of such mineral agreement;

(b)if the Minister is on reasonable grounds satisfied -

(i)with the proposed programme of prospecting operations or the proposed expenditure to be expended in respect of such operations;

(ii)that the person concerned has the technical and financial resources to carry on such prospecting operations;

(c)on the grounds thereof that such holder has contravened or failed to comply with any provision of this Act or any term and condition of such licence, unless the Minister has by notice in writing informed such holder of his or her intention to so refuse such application -

(i)setting out particulars of the contravention or failure in question; and

(ii)requiring such holder to make representations to the Minister in relation to such contravention or failure or to remedy such contravention or failure on or before a date specified in such notice,and such holder has failed to so remedy such contravention or failure or make representations.

73. Applications for amendment of exclusive prospecting licences

(1)Subject to the provisions of subsection (2), the holder of an exclusive prospecting licence may apply for the amendment of such licence -

(a)by the extension or reduction or the extension and reduction of the prospecting area to which such licence relates; or

(b)by the addition of any mineral or group of minerals to which such licence relates.

(2)The provisions of sections 68 and 69 shall apply mutatis mutandis in relation to an application referred to in subsection (1).

(3)If the Minister grants an application referred to in subsection (1)the Commissioner shall amend the licence in question accordingly.

74. Obligations of holders of exclusive prospecting licences

The provisions of section 41(1)shall apply mutatis mutandis in relation to the holder of an exclusive prospecting licence, and in such application -

(a)any reference to the registration of a mining claim, shall be construed as a reference to an exclusive prospecting licence;

(b)any reference to mining operations, shall be deemed to have been deleted;

(c)any reference to a claim area or a mining claim, shall be construed as a reference to a prospecting area; and

(d)the provisions of paragraphs (b) and (c) of section 41(1) shall be deemed to have been deleted.

75. Work programmes of prospecting operations

The provisions of section 42 shall apply mutatis mutandis in relation to the holder of an exclusive prospecting licence, and in such application -

(a)any reference to the holder of a mining claim, shall be construed as a reference to the holder of an exclusive prospecting licence;

(b)any reference to mining operations, shall be deemed to have been deleted; and

(c)any reference to the registration of a mining claim, shall be construed as a reference to an exclusive prospecting licence.

76. Records, maps, plans and financial statements to be kept, and information, reports and returns to be submitted, by holders of exclusive prospecting licences

(1)The holder of an exclusive prospecting licence -

(a)shall keep at an address in Namibia a proper record in such form as may be determined m writing by the Commissioner in relation to -

(i)the location and results of all photogeological studies, imaging, geological mapping, geochemical sampling, geophysical surveying, drilling, pitting and trenching, sampling and bulk sampling carried on by such holder in the course of the prospecting operations carried on by him or her in the prospecting area to which such exclusive prospecting licence relates;

(ii)the results of all analytical, metallurgical and mineralogical work incidental to such prospecting operations;

(iii)the interpretation and assessment of the studies, surveys and work referred to in subparagraphs (i) and (ii);

(iv)the persons employed by such holder for purposes of such prospecting operations, including the names, addresses, nationality and ages of, and the total remuneration and other benefits paid and granted to such persons;

(v)the nature, mass or volume and value of any mineral or group of minerals sold or otherwise disposed of and the full names and address of any person to whom such mineral or group of minerals was sold or otherwise disposed of;

(vi)the expenses incurred by such holder in the course of such prospecting operations; and

(vii)such other work as may be determined in writing by the Commissioner and specified by notice in writing addressed and delivered to such holder;

(b)shall prepare or cause to be prepared and maintain at all times plans and maps in respect of the prospecting area;

(c)shall prepare, in respect of each year of assessment, as defined in section 1 of the Income Tax Act, 1981 (Act 24 of 1981), of such holder during the currency of such exclusive prospecting licence and each period during which such exclusive prospecting licence is renewed, a statement of income and expenditure derived or incurred in connection with any prospecting operations in such prospecting area and such other financial statement, defined in section 1 of the Income Tax form as the Commissioner may determine;

(d)shall submit within 30 days after the end of each quarter during the currency of such exclusive prospecting licence to the Commissioner in such form as may be determined in writing by the Commissioner a return or returns containing in relation to such quarter -

(i)a summary of the particulars and information contained in the records referred to in paragraph (a) as may be required by the Commissioner and indicated in such form or requested by the Commissioner by notice in writing addressed and delivered to such holder; and

(ii)such other particulars as the Commissioner may require in relation to the prospecting operations carried on by such holder; and

(e)shall submit, within 60 days after the end of the currency of such exclusive prospecting licence and of each period during which such exclusive prospecting licence has been renewed in respect of the whole of the prospecting area, or together with an application for the renewal of such exclusive prospecting licence or an application for a mineral deposit retention licence or mining licence in respect of the whole or any portion of the prospecting area, to the Commissioner -

(i)in such form as may be determined in writing by the Commissioner, a report in duplicate or, in the case where an application is made for a mineral deposit retention licence or mining licence in respect of a portion of the prospecting area, separate reports in duplicate in respect of such portion and the remainder of such prospecting area containing in relation to such period -

(aa)an evaluation of the prospects of the discovery of any mineral or group of minerals in such prospecting area;

(bb)all information, including photographs, tabulations, tapes and discs, but excluding information contained in a report furnished in terms of section 53(2), in the records referred to in paragraph (a) and the plans and maps referred to in paragraph (b);

(cc)the nature, mass or volume and value of any mineral or group of minerals sold or otherwise disposed of and the full names and address of any person to whom such mineral or group of minerals has been sold or otherwise disposed of;

(dd)an estimate of the mineral reserves in the prospecting area properly illustrated by way of plans and maps according to an appropriate scale; and

(ee)such other particulars as the Commissioner may require in relation to the prospecting operations carried on by such holder; and

(ii)the statement of income and expenditure and financial statements referred to in paragraph (c).

(2)In the event of the cancellation of an exclusive prospecting licence under section 55 or the expiration of an exclusive prospecting licence, the person who was the holder of such licence immediately before such cancellation or expiration shall on a date not later than one month after the date of such cancellation or expiration deliver to the Commissioner -

(a)all records kept in terms of the provisions of subsection (1)(a);

(b)all maps and plans referred to in subsection (1)(b);

(c)all reports, photographs, tabulations, tapes and discs prepared by or on behalf of such person in the course of such prospecting operations; and

(d)such other books, documents, records and reports as the Commissioner may require by notice in writing addressed and delivered to such person,

or copies of such records, maps, plans, reports, photographs, tabulations, tapes, discs, books and documents, unless a mineral deposit retention licence or a mining licence is issued to such person in relation to the area to which such exclusive prospecting licence related with effect from the date following on the date of such cancellation or lapsing or such later date as the Commissioner may on good cause shown allow.

(b)seize any such records, maps and plans, reports, photographs, tabulations, tapes, discs, books and documents,

Part XI – Provisions relating to mineral deposit retention licences

77. Rights of holders of mineral deposit retention licences

(1)Subject to the provisions of subsection (2) and the other provisions of this Act, the holder of a mineral deposit retention licence shall be entitled -

(a)to retain the retention area to which such mineral deposit retention licence relates for future mining operations;

(b)to carry on, in order to determine from time to time the prospects of mining any mineral or group of minerals to which such mineral deposit retention licence relates on a profitable basis, prospecting operations in such retention area;

(c)to remove any mineral or group of minerals other than a controlled mineral or sample of such mineral or group of minerals, for any purpose other than sale or disposal, from any place where it was found or incidentally won in the course of prospecting operations referred to in paragraph (b) to any other place within Namibia;

(d)with the permission in writing of the Commissioner previously obtained generally or in every particular case and subject to such conditions as may be determined by the Commissioner or subject to the conditions of an exemption granted under section 137 -

(i)to remove any mineral or group of minerals referred to in paragraph (c) for any purpose other than sale or disposal, from any place where it was found or incidentally won in the course of prospecting operations referred to in paragraph (b) to any place outside Namibia;

(ii)to remove any controlled mineral or sample of such mineral, for any purpose other than sale or disposal, from any place where it was found or incidentally won in the course of prospecting operations referred to in paragraph (b) to any place, whether within or outside Namibia;

(iii)To remove any mineral or group of minerals, for purposes of sale or disposal, from any place where it was found or incidentally won in the course of such prospecting operations;

(iv)to sell or otherwise dispose of any such mineral or group of minerals;

(e)to carry on, in order to determine from time to time the prospects of mining any mineral or group of minerals to which such licence relates on a profitable basis, such other investigations and operations, including the erection or construction of accessory works, in such retention area as may be reasonably necessary for, or in connection with, any future mining operations or any prospecting operations contemplated in paragraph (b).

(2)The provisions of subsection (1) shall not be construed as -

(a)conferring on the holder of a mineral deposit retention licence any preferential right to any other licence in relation to any mineral or group of minerals, other than a mineral or group of minerals to which such mineral deposit retention licence relates, during the currency or on expiry of such mineral deposit retention licence;

(b)preventing the Minister from granting to any other person in respect of the retention area to which such mineral deposit retention licence relates -

(i)a reconnaissance licence in respect of any mineral or group of minerals;

(ii)a reconnaissance licence by virtue of which an exclusive right is conferred upon the holder of such licence to carry on reconnaissance operations in respect of any mineral or group of minerals other than the mineral or group of minerals to which such mineral deposit retention licence relates;

(iii)an exclusive prospecting licence, mining licence or mineral deposit retention licence in respect of any mineral or group of minerals other than the mineral or group of minerals to which such mineral deposit retention licence relates.

(3)

(a)The holder of a mineral deposit retention licence shall not erect or construct any accessory works referred to in subsection (1)(e) without the prior permission in writing of the Commissioner.

(b)The Commissioner shall not grant the permission referred to in paragraph (a) in respect of accessory works to be erected or constructed on private land, unless the holder of such mineral deposit retention licence has complied with the provisions of section 52(1)(a) in relation to any compensation to be paid to the owner of such private land.

(4)An application for the permission referred to in subsection (1)(d) or (3) shall be made to the Commissioner in such form as may be determined in writing by the Commissioner and shall be accompanied by such application fee, if any, as may be determined under section 123, together with such documents and information as may be required by the Commissioner.

(5)The holder of a mineral deposit retention licence who has removed, as contemplated in paragraph (c) of subsection (1), any mineral or group of minerals other than a controlled mineral or any sample of such mineral or group of minerals from the place where it was found or incidentally won, for any purpose other than for sale or disposal, to any place within Namibia, shall, except to the extent to which such holder has been exempted, under the provisions of section 137, from the provisions of this subsection, inform the Commissioner in writing of such removal, not later than 14 days or such longer period as the Commissioner may allow after such removal, and provide particulars of the nature of such sample, mineral or group of minerals and the place to which it has been so removed.

(6)

(a)The holder of a mineral deposit retention licence who has contravened or failed to comply with the provisions of subsection (1)(d), (3) or (5) shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding R20 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

(b)If in any prosecution in terms of paragraph (a) of this subsection for the contravention or failure to comply with the provisions of subsection (1)(d)(iii), it is proved -

(i)that the holder referred to in that paragraph has removed any mineral or group of minerals from the retention area to which the mineral deposit retention licence relates;

(ii)that such holder has not obtained the permission of the Commissioner for the removal of such mineral or group of minerals as required by subsection (1)(d); and

(iii)that such holder has failed to inform the Commissioner of the removal of such mineral or group of minerals as provided in subsection (5),

it shall be presumed until the contrary is proved that such holder has removed such mineral or group of minerals for purposes of sale or disposal, as the case may be.

78. Persons who may apply for mineral deposit retention licences

Notwithstanding the provisions of section 46, no person shall apply for a mineral deposit retention licence, unless such person is the holder of an exclusive prospecting licence or a mining claim in relation to the area of land and the mineral or group of minerals to which his or her application relates.

79. Applications for mineral deposit retention licences

An application by any person for a mineral deposit retention licence -

(a)shall contain -

(i)in the case of a natural person, the full names, nationality, date of birth, postal and residential address of such person;

(iii)in the case of any person represented by an accredited agent, the full names and address of such accredited agent;

(b)shall state the period for which such mineral deposit retention licence is required;

(c)shall be accompanied by a detailed plan of the area to which the application relates drawn according to an appropriate scale of such area, indicating -

(i)its location with reference to magisterial districts;

(ii)the name and number of any farm situated therein; and

(iii)the extent of such area defined by reference to identifiable physical features or coordinate reference points;

(d)shall contain a detailed geological description of the area of land to which the application relates -

(i)in which the mineral or group of minerals to which such application relates is set out;

(ii)which includes an estimate, substantiated by documentary proof or such other proof as may be required by the Commissioner, of the mineral reserves in such retention area and properly illustrated by way of plans and maps drawn according to an appropriate scale; and

(iii)which, in the case of an application made consequent upon prospecting operations carried on in lieu of mining operations on a mining claim or prospecting operations carried on in terms of an exclusive prospecting licence of which the person applying for the mineral deposit retention licence is the holder, the report and the separate reports, if any, referred to in section 76(1)(e)(i);

(e)shall contain particulars of -

(i)any licence, including any mining claim, issued in terms of the provisions of this Act held by such person alone or jointly with any other person and the mineral or group of minerals to which any such licence or mining claim relates; and

(ii)any prospecting operations and mining operations carried on by such person alone or jointly with any other person outside Namibia,

on the date of such application and during a period of 10 years immediately preceding such date;

(f)shall contain particulars of -

(i)the condition of, and any existing damage to, the environment in the area to which the application relates; and

(ii)an estimate of the effect which the proposed prospecting operations may have on the environment and the proposed steps to be taken in order to minimize or prevent any such effect;

(g)shall contain particulars, substantiated by documentary proof or such other proof as may be required by the Commissioner, of the technical and financial resources of, or available to, such person;

(h)shall be accompanied by a statement containing -

(i)the reasons why any deposit of any mineral or group of minerals contained in the area of land to which the application relates cannot at the time of the application be won or mined on a profitable basis;

(ii)an indication of the circumstances in which, and the earliest date on which, such mineral or group of minerals can be won or mined on a profitable basis; and

(iii)the reasons why no further prospecting operations can usefully be carried on in such prospecting area or on such mining claim or the portion thereof to which the application relates;

(i)shall be accompanied by such other documents and information as the Minister may require in relation to such application; and

(j)may contain any other matter which in the opinion of the person concerned is relevant to the application.

80. Exercise of powers of Minister to grant or refuse mineral deposit retention licences

(1)The Minister shall not grant an application for a mineral deposit retention licence to a person who is, in terms of section 78, entitled to apply for such licence -

(a)in respect of an area larger than an area which in the opinion of the Minister would be required, having regard to the available minerals or groups of minerals in the area to which the application relates, to carry on the proposed future mining operations;

(b)if at the time of the application, such person is contravening any provision of this Act or any condition, direction or order determined, given or made under any such provision or is failing to comply with any such provision, condition, direction or order;

(c)in relation to any mineral or group of minerals, unless the Minister is on reasonable grounds satisfied -

(i)that the deposit of the mineral or group of minerals in the area to which the application relates cannot, for the reasons set out in the application, be won or mined on a profitable basis at the time and can probably be so won or mined on the expiration of the period contemplated in section 82;

(ii)that no further prospecting operations can usefully be carried on in the area to which the application relates; and

(iii)that it is desirable, having regard to the future utilization of the mineral resources of Namibia, to grant such licence;

(d)in relation to the area of land to which such application relates in respect of any mineral or group of minerals, if at the time of such application -

(i)such area of land forms part of any prospecting area in relation to any mineral or group of minerals other than the mineral or group of minerals to which the exclusive prospecting licence issued in respect of that area relates, unless -

(aa)such person has given notice in writing, not later than on the date on which such application is made, to the holder of the exclusive prospecting licence to which such prospecting area relates of his or her application or intended application, as the case may be, for such mineral deposit retention licence;

(bb)the Minister has afforded the holder referred to in item (aa) a reasonable opportunity to make representations in relation to such application;

(cc)the Minister deems it, with due regard to any representations made in terms of item (bb), desirable, having regard to the future utilization of the mineral resources of Namibia, to grant such licence;

(dd)the Minister is on reasonable grounds satisfied that prospecting operations referred to in paragraph (b) of section 77(1) and any other investigations and operations referred to in paragraph (e) of that section to be carried on by virtue of such licence will not detrimentally affect the rights of any holder of an exclusive prospecting licence in respect of any such area and that the prospecting operations carried on by the holder of the exclusive prospecting licence on that portion of the prospecting area to which the application relates have little or no prospects of success of discovering any mineral or group of minerals which may in the opinion of the Minister be won or mined on a profitable basis;

(ii)such area of land forms part of any retention area in relation to any mineral or group of minerals other than the mineral or group of minerals to which the mineral deposit retention licence issued in respect of that area relates, unless -

(aa)the Minister deems it desirable, having regard to the future utilization of the mineral resources of Namibia, to grant such licence;

(bb)the Minister is on reasonable grounds satisfied that prospecting operations referred to in paragraph (b) of section 77(1) and any other investigations and operations referred to in paragraph (e) of that section to be carried on by virtue of such licence will not detrimentally affect the rights of any holder of the mineral deposit retention licence in respect of any such area;

(cc)the holder of the mineral deposit retention licence has consented to the mineral deposit retention licence being granted.

(2)The Minister shall not refuse to grant an application for a mineral deposit retention licence on any grounds contemplated in subsection (1)(b), unless the Minister -

(a)has by notice in writing informed such holder of his or her intention to so refuse such application -

(i)setting out particulars of the grounds on which his or her intention is based; and

(ii)requiring such holder to make representations to the Minister in relation to such grounds or to remedy any matter relating to such grounds specified in such notice, and such holder has failed to so remedy such matter or to make representations; and

(b)has taken into consideration any representations made by such person.

81. Issue of mineral deposit retention licences

(1)Subject to subsections (4) and (5) of section 48, the Minister shall, upon the granting of an application for a mineral deposit retention licence, direct the Commissioner to issue to the person who applied for such licence, a mineral deposit retention licence on such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon as provided in the said subsections.

(2)The provisions of section 62 shall apply mutatis mutandis in relation to a mineral deposit retention licence.

82. Duration of mineral deposit retention licences

(1)Subject to the provisions of this Act, a mineral deposit retention licence shall be valid -

(a)for such period, not exceeding five years, as may be determined by the Minister at the time of the granting of such licence; and

(b)for such further period, not exceeding two years, as may from time to time be determined by the Minister at the time of the granting of any application for the renewal of such licence.

(2)Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1), but subject to the other provisions of this Act -

(a)a mineral deposit retention licence shall not expire during a period during which an application for the renewal of such licence is being considered until such application is refused or the application is withdrawn or has lapsed, whichever occurs first or, if such application is granted, until such time as the exclusive prospecting licence is renewed in consequence of such application;

(b)where an application is made by the holder of a mineral deposit retention licence for a mining licence in relation to an area of land which forms part of the retention area and in respect of any mineral or group of minerals to which such mineral deposit retention licence relates, such mineral deposit retention licence shall not expire in relation to such area of land and such mineral or group of minerals, until such application is refused or the application is withdrawn or has lapsed, whichever occurs first or, if such application is granted, until such time as the exclusive prospecting licence is renewed in consequence of such application.

83. Effect of issue of mineral deposit retention licences on prospecting areas

When a mineral deposit retention licence is issued -

(a)to the holder of a mining claim in respect of the claim area to which that mining claim relates, the registration of such mining claim shall, for purposes of the provisions of Part VII, be deemed to have lapsed; or

(b)to the holder of an exclusive prospecting licence in respect of an area of land which forms part of the prospecting area and any mineral or group of minerals to which such exclusive prospecting licence relates -

(i)such exclusive prospecting licence shall cease to have effect in relation to such area of land as from the date on which such mineral deposit retention licence is issued;

(ii)any other exclusive prospecting licence shall so cease to have effect, unless the Minister has, subject to the provisions of section 80(1)(d)(i), determined otherwise on such conditions as may be determined in writing by him or her.

84. Applications for renewal of mineral deposit retention licences

(1)Subject to the provisions of subsection (2) of this section, the provisions of sections 79 and 80 shall apply mutatis mutandis in relation to an application for the renewal of a mineral deposit retention licence.

(2)An application for the renewal of a mineral deposit retention licence shall be made not later than 90 days before the date on which such licence will expire if it is not renewed or such later date, but not later than such expiry date, as the Minister may on good cause shown allow.

(3)Subject to the provisions of subsection (1), the Minister shall not refuse an application for the renewal of a mineral deposit retention licence on the grounds thereof that the holder of such licence has contravened or failed to comply with any provision of this Act or any term and condition of such licence, unless the Minister has by notice in writing informed such holder of his or her intention to so refuse such application -

(a)setting out particulars of the contravention or failure in question; and

(b)requiring such holder to make representations to the Minister in relation to such contravention or failure or to remedy such contravention or failure on or before a date specified in such notice,

and such holder has failed to so remedy such contravention or failure or make representations.

85. Application for amendment of mineral deposit retention licence

The provisions of section 73(1) shall apply mutatis mutandis in relation to the amendment of a mineral deposit retention licence, and in such application -

(a)any reference to an exclusive prospecting licence, shall be construed as a reference to a mineral deposit retention licence;

(b)any reference to a prospecting area, shall be construed as a reference to a retention area; and

(c)any reference to sections 68 and 69 shall be deemed to be a reference to sections 79 and 80.

86. Obligations of holders of mineral deposit retention licences

The provisions of section 41(1) shall apply mutatis mutandis in relation to the holder of a mineral deposit retention licence, and in such application -

(a)any reference to the registration of a mining claim, shall be construed as a reference to a mineral deposit retention licence;

(b)any reference to mining operations, shall be construed as a reference to work performed by virtue of a mineral deposit retention licence;

(c)any reference to a claim area or a mining claim, shall be construed as a reference to a retention area; and

(d)the provisions of paragraph (c) of section 41(1) shall be deemed to have been deleted.

87. Work programmes of operations carried on in terms of mineral deposit retention licence

The provisions of section 42 shall apply mutatis mutandis in relation to the holder of a mineral deposit retention licence, and in such application -

(a)any reference to the holder of a mining claim, shall be construed as a reference to the holder of a mineral deposit retention licence;

(b)any reference to mining operations, shall be construed as a reference to work performed by virtue of a mineral deposit retention licence; and

(c)any reference to the registration of a mining claim, shall be construed as a reference to a mineral deposit retention licence.

88. Directions by Minister to holders of mineral deposit retention licences to apply for mining licences

(1)Subject to the provisions of subsection (2), the Minister may, if he or she has reason to believe -

(a)that any mineral or group of minerals to which a mineral deposit retention licence relates may be won or mined, sold or otherwise disposed of on a profitable basis;

(b)that further prospecting operations may indicate the existence of any such mineral or group of minerals which may be won or mined, sold or otherwise disposed of on a profitable basis,

by notice in writing addressed and delivered to the holder of such licence, require such holder -

(i)to apply for a mining licence to carry on mining operations in respect of such mineral or group of minerals;

(ii)to carry on such further prospecting operations as may be specified in such notice in relation to such retention area within such reasonable period as may be specified in such notice; or

(iii)to abandon, if he or she so desires, such retention area in accordance with the provisions of section 54.

(2)The Minister shall not issue a notice under subsection (1) to the holder of a mineral deposit retention licence, unless the Minister -

(a)has by notice in writing addressed and delivered to such holder informed such holder of his or her intention to issue a notice contemplated in that subsection -

(i)setting out the reasons for such intention; and

(ii)requiring such holder to make within such period as may be specified in such notice representations to the Minister in relation to such reasons; and

(b)has taken into consideration any representations made by such person.

(3)Any holder of a mineral deposit retention licence who contravenes or fails to comply with a notice referred to in subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding R50 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

89. Records, maps, plans and financial statements to be kept, and information, reports and returns to be submitted, by holders of mineral deposit retention licences

(1)The holder of a mineral deposit retention licence -

(a)shall keep at an address in Namibia a proper record in such form as may be determined m writing by the Commissioner in relation to -

(i)the investigations and operations, including the erection or construction of accessory works, in such retention area as may be reasonably necessary carried on by such holder for, or in connection with, future mining operations contemplated in section 77;

(ii)the location and results of all photogeological studies, imaging, geological mapping, geochemical sampling, geophysical surveying, drilling, pitting and trenching, sampling and bulk sampling carried on by such holder in the course of the prospecting operations carried on by him or her in the retention area to which such mineral deposit retention licence relates;

(iii)the results of all analytical, metallurgical and mineralogical work incidental to such prospecting operations;

(iv)the interpretation and assessment of the studies, surveys and work referred to in subparagraphs (ii) and (iii);

(v)the persons employed by such holder for purposes of such investigations and operations, including the names, addresses, nationality and ages of, and remuneration and other benefits paid and granted to such persons;

(vi)the nature, mass or volume and value of any mineral or group of minerals sold or otherwise disposed of and the full names and address of any person to whom such mineral or group of minerals was sold or otherwise disposed of;

(vii)the expenses incurred by such holder in the course of such prospecting operations; and

(viii)such other work as may be determined by the Commissioner and specified by notice in writing addressed and delivered to such holder;

(b)shall prepare or cause to be prepared and maintain at all times plans and maps in respect of the retention area;

(c)shall prepare, in respect of each year of assessment, as defined in section 1 of the Income Tax Act, 1981 (Act 24 of 1981), of such holder during the currency of such mineral deposit retention licence and each period during which such mineral deposit retention licence is renewed, a statement of income and expenditure derived or incurred in connection with any operations in such retention area and such other financial statements as the Commissioner may require in such form as the Commissioner may determine;

(d)shall submit, within 60 days after the end of the currency of such mineral deposit retention licence in respect of the whole of the retention area, or together with an application for the renewal of such mineral deposit retention licence or an application for a mining licence in respect of the whole or any portion of the retention area, to the Commissioner -

(i)in such form as may be determined in writing by the Commissioner, a report in duplicate or, in the case where an application is made for a mining licence in respect of a portion of the retention area, separate reports in duplicate in respect of such portion and the remainder of such retention area, setting out in relation to such period -

(aa)an evaluation of the prospects of future mining operations in such retention area;

(bb)all information, including photographs, tabulations, tapes and discs, in the records referred to in paragraph (a) and the plans and maps referred to in paragraph (b);

(cc)such other particulars as the Commissioner may require in relation to the operations carried on by such holder;

(ii)the statement of income and expenditure and financial statements referred to in paragraph (c);

(e)shall submit within 90 days after the end of each year during the currency of such retention licence to the Commissioner in such form as may be determined in writing by the Commissioner the statement of income and expenditure and financial statements referred to in paragraph (c); and

(f)shall submit to the Minister such other reports, records and other information as the Minister may from time to time require in connection with the carrying on of investigations and operations in the retention area in question.

(2)In the event of the cancellation of a mineral deposit retention licence under section 55 or the expiration of a mineral deposit retention licence the person who was the holder of such licence immediately before such cancellation or expiration shall on a date not later than 180 days after the date of such cancellation or expiration deliver to the Commissioner -

(a)all records kept in terms of the provisions of subsection (1)(a); and

(b)such other books, documents, records and reports as the Commissioner may require by notice in writing addressed and delivered to such person,

or copies of such records, books, documents and reports, unless a mining licence is issued to such person in relation to the area to which such mineral deposit retention licence related with effect from the date following on the date of such cancellation or lapsing or such later date as the Commissioner may on good cause shown allow.

(b)seize any such records, maps and plans, reports, photographs, tabulations, tapes, discs, books and documents,

Part XII – Provisions relating to mining licences

90. Rights of holders of mining licences

(1)Subject to the provisions of subsection (2) and the other provisions of this Act, the holder of a mining licence shall be entitled -

(a)to carry on mining operations in the mining area to which such licence relates for such mineral or group of minerals as may be specified in such licence;

(b)to carry on in such mining area, in conjunction with any mining operations referred to in paragraph (a), any prospecting operations in relation to any mineral or group of minerals;

(c)to remove any mineral or group of minerals other than a controlled mineral or sample of such mineral or group of minerals, for any purpose other than sale or disposal, from any place where it was found or won or mined in the course of mining operations referred to in paragraph (a) or found or incidentally won in the course of prospecting operations referred to in paragraph (b) to any other place within Namibia;

(ii)to remove from the mining area, for any purpose other than sale or disposal, any controlled mineral or sample of such mineral won or mined in the course of mining operations referred to in paragraph (a) or found or incidentally won in the course of prospecting operations referred to in paragraph (c) to any place, whether within or outside Namibia;

(iii)to remove from the mining area, for purposes of sale or disposal, any mineral or group of minerals won or mined in the course of mining operations referred to in paragraph (a) or found or incidentally won in the course of prospecting operations referred to in paragraph (b);

(iv)to sell or otherwise dispose of any such mineral or group of minerals;

(e)to carry on such other operations, including the erection or construction of accessory works, as may be reasonably necessary for, or in connection with, the mining operations; removal, selling or disposal or prospecting operations contemplated in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d).

(2)

(a)The holder of a mining licence shall not erect or construct any accessory works referred to in subsection (1)(e) without the prior permission in writing of the Commissioner.

(b)The Commissioner shall not grant the permission referred to in paragraph (a) in respect of accessory works to be erected or constructed on private land, unless the holder of the mining licence has complied mutatis mutandis with the provisions of section 52(1)(a) in relation to any compensation to be paid to the owner of such private land.

(3)An application for the permission referred to in subsections (1)(d) and (2) shall be made to the Commissioner in such form as may be determined in writing by the Commissioner and shall be accompanied by such application fee, if any, as may be determined under section 123, together with such documents and information as may be required by the Commissioner.

(4)The holder of a mining licence who has removed, as contemplated in paragraph (c) of subsection (1), any mineral or group of minerals other than a controlled mineral or any sample of such mineral or group of minerals from the place where it was found, won or mined, for any purpose other than for sale or disposal, to any place within Namibia, shall, except to the extent to which such holder has been exempted, under the provisions of section 137, from the provisions of this subsection, inform the Commissioner in writing of such removal, not later than 14 days or such longer period as the Commissioner may allow after such removal, and provide particulars of the nature of such sample, mineral or group of minerals and the place to which it has been so removed.

(5)

(a)The holder of a mining licence who has contravened or failed to comply with provisions of subsection (1)(d) or (4) shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding R20 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

(b)If in any prosecution in terms of paragraph (a) of this subsection for the contravention or failure to comply with the provisions of subsection (1)(d)(iii), it is proved -

(i)that the holder referred to in that paragraph has removed any mineral or group of minerals from the mining area to which the mining licence relates;

(ii)that such holder has not obtained the permission of the Commissioner for the removal of such mineral or group of minerals as required by subsection (1)(d); and

(iii)that such holder has failed to inform the Commissioner of the removal of such

Minerals (Prospecting and Mining) Act, 1992

Related documents

Minerals (Prospecting and Mining) Act, 1992

Act 33 of 1992

Part I – Introductory provisions

1. Definitions

Part II – Rights in relation to minerals

2. Rights in relation to minerals

3. Prohibition on carrying on certain operations without licence, and transfer of certain licences or grant, cession or assignment of interests in such licences, and joinder of persons as joint holders of such licences or interests

Part III – Administration of Act

4. Appointment of Mining Commissioner, and designation of other officers

5. General powers of Commissioner

6. Preservation of secrecy

7. Prohibition of certain officers on holding certain interests in mineral licences or in companies holding mineral licences

8. Limitation of liability

Part IV – Minerals Board of Namibia

9. Establishment of Minerals Board of Namibia

10. Functions of board

11. Constitution of board

12. Term of office and conditions of service of members of board

13. Vacation of office by members of board

14. Meetings of board and decisions

15. Performance of administrative functions of board

Part V – Provisions relating to non-exclusive prospecting licences

16. Rights of holders of non-exclusive prospecting licences

17. Persons who may apply for non-exclusive prospecting licences

18. Applications for non-exclusive prospecting licences

19. Powers of Commissioner in respect of applications for non-exclusive prospecting licences

20. Restrictions on grant of non-exclusive prospecting licences

21. Issue of non-exclusive prospecting licences

22. Duration of non-exclusive prospecting licence

23. Transfer or renewal of non-exclusive prospecting licences, and grant, cession or assignment of interests in such licences, and joinder of persons as joint holders of such licences or interests

24. Records to be kept and returns to be submitted by licence holders of non-exclusive prospecting licences

Part VI – Pegging of claims

25. Persons who may peg claims

26. Restrictions on pegging of claims

27. Limitations on pegging of claims

28. Manner of pegging of claims

29. Effect of pegging of claims

30. Powers of Commissioner in event of failure by holders to comply with provisions of this Part or disputes

Part VII – Provisions relating to mining claims

31. Rights of holders of mining claims

32. Persons who may apply for registration of claims

33. Applications for registration of claims

34. Powers of Commissioner in respect of applications for registration of claims

35. Restrictions on grant of applications for registration of claims

36. Registration of claims

37. Duration of mining claims

38. Applications for renewal of registration of mining claims

39. Transfer of mining claims, and grant, cession or assignment of interests in mining claims, and joinder of persons as joint holders of such mining claims or interests

40. Directions to holders of mining claims

41. General terms and conditions of registration of mining claims

42. Work programmes of prospecting operations and mining operations

43. Abandonment of mining claims

44. Cancellation of registration of mining claims

45. Records, maps, plans and financial statements to be kept, and information, reports and returns to be submitted, by holders of mining claims

Part VIII – General provisions relating to mineral licences

46. Persons who may apply for, or for transfer of, mineral licences or for approval to grant, cede or assign interests in such licences or to be joined as joint holders of such licences or interests

47. Applications for, or for renewal or transfer of, mineral licences, or for approval for grant, cession or assignment of interests in mineral licences or to be joined as joint holders of such mineral licences or interests

48. Powers of Minister in respect of applications for, or for renewal or transfer of, mineral licences or for approval for grant, cession or assignment of interests in mineral licences, or to be joined as joint holders of such mineral licences or interests

49. Mineral agreements

50. General terms and conditions of mineral licences

51. Register of mineral licences

52. Restrictions on exercise of rights by holders of mineral licences

53. Drilling of boreholes

54. Abandonment of reconnaissance areas, prospecting areas, retention areas and mining areas

55. Cancellation of mineral licences

56. Vis major

57. Directions to holders of mineral licences

Part IX – Provisions relating to reconnaissance licences

58. Rights of holders of reconnaissance licences

59. Exclusive rights to carry on reconnaissance operations

60. Applications for reconnaissance licences

61. Restrictions on grant of applications relating to reconnaissance licences

62. Issue of reconnaissance licences

63. Duration of reconnaissance licences

64. Transfer of reconnaissance licences, and grant, cession or assignment of interests in such licences, and joinder of persons as joint holders of such licences or interests

65. Work programmes of reconnaissance operations

66. Records, maps, plans and financial statements to be kept, and information, reports and returns to be submitted, by holders of reconnaissance licences

Part X – Provisions relating to exclusive prospecting licences