BUJUMBURA June 21st (ABP) – The MPs unanimously passed, on Monday June 19, 2023, the bill revising the Mining Code in Burundi, during a plenary session which was chaired by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr. Daniel Gélase Ndabirabe.
During the explanatory memorandum, the Minister of Hydraulics, Energy and Mines, Mr. Ibrahim Uwizeye, who represented the government, indicated that Burundi has a mining and quarry potential rich and varied whose increase in value and rational exploitation can contribute, in a significant way, to the socio-economic growth of the country.
According to Mr. Uwizeye, the mining and quarrying sector is an important component of the country’s economic growth.
Moreover, he continued to say, since 2013, the mining and quarrying sector in Burundi has adopted new texts allowing the attraction of both national and international investment. However, he explained, over time, shortcomings in the implementation of certain international requirements have been noticed in those texts.
Mr. Uwizeye also indicated that to fill those gaps, the ministry has taken steps to revise the Burundi Mining Code and its implementing texts, to comply with the field reality and government guidelines.
With regard to innovations and additions during the amendment of that Mining Code, Minister Uwizeye pointed out the introduction of certain articles, including that relating to the state of the product to be exported, at the time limit of return to investment, to the duration of exploitations for artisanal exploitations of ores, quarries, for mechanized exploitations and industrial ones.
During the question session, the MPs asked for the participation of the State and Burundian economic operators in that mining sector. On that concern, Minister Uwizeye indicated that the State participates in the share capital of the operating company as the owner of the subsoil, for the life of the mine. He added that the State and economic operators can hold, against payment, the share capital of the operating company.
After analysis, the 108 MPs who were present at the plenary session unanimously passed the said bill, subject to a few formal (23) and substantive (50) amendments.