February 28, 2025-MONROVIA: The Ministry of Mines and Energy has announced in Monrovia, the lifting of the ban placed on acceptance of all applications for Reconnaissance, Prospecting, and Exploration Licenses, which takes effect on Monday, 3 March, 2025.
A dispatch from the Mines and Energy Ministry says, application requests in the three categories (Reconnaissance, Prospecting, and Exploration), will be considered on the usual first to file basis as a matter of best practice. The dispatch further says, all research applications for mineral rights that have lasted for more than one hundred and eighty (180) days without any substantial action (s) taken will be deemed rejected in line with section 9.3 of the Minerals and Mining Law of 2000.
According to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the normal size of an Exploration License area (block) will be generally limited to two hundred and fifty (250) square kilometers (61,776.4 acres) per License. All applications that do not meet mandatory requirements such as physical office address, etc., will be out-rightly rejected.
Signed by its Public Relations Officer, Richard Manuba, the Mines and Energy Ministry dispatch concludes by saying that in line with the Heavy Minerals Sand (HMS) Regulations, the Ministry of Mines and Energy will not accept any new applications for Heavy Minerals Sand exploration. Regarding that, the Ministry of Mines and Energy says, the public will be duly informed of any future change in its decision.