The Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification recently finished a successful consultation with members of the landowning groups at Gold Ridge Mine about the National Mineral Policy, the new mining law, and the Solomon Islands Minerals Advisory Centre (SIMAC). An important topic discussed during the consultation was SIMAC, which will be an independent body like a watchdog to oversee the operation and provide feedback as well as recommendations for the purpose of influencing the Ministry. Also discussed at the consultation was the need to improve how the mining sector is regulated given the recent experience in Rennell, Isabel, and Guadalcanal. The Ministry added that the consultation for the new mining law took place in Honiara in September 2018 and is planned for Guadalcanal, Isabel, Rennell, and Choiseul in May 2019. (Source: Solomon Star, 15 May 2019)
With the consultation timetable set to end in May 2019, the new mining law may be ready for Parliament by late 2019 or early 2020. The Government may be keen to fast-track this new mining law to ensure Government revenue continues to flow with logging revenue expected to decline in the future.
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