Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2021-10-05

Exploitation of Geological Resources for Development Priorities

- The Presidential Task Force on Geological Resources has been established with the objectives of assessing the quantities of metal, sand, earth, gravel and clay required for the development projects of the Government within the next five years, identifying the methodologies of supplying of geological resources for the said projects, simplifying the licensing process adapted in the use of geological resources required for the other projects in the field of construction and smallish economic livelihoods and identifying the lands to be used for different development activities. The said Task Force, in its preliminary report, has submitted the recommendations for easing the mining licensing procedure to the public and clients in obtaining metal, sand, earth/gravel and clay required for the construction industry. As such, the proposal made by H. E. the President, taking into consideration the said recommendations to issue a circular containing the necessary orders to all Heads of Institutions connected with the procedure to ease the relevant procedure and to issue a manual on the mechanisms to be adapted by the Public Institutions in issuing licenses on mining, transportation and trading of minerals used in the construction industry, was approved by the Cabinet.