The Ministry of Mines, on January 21, 2024, published the Minerals (Other than Atomic and Hydro Carbons Energy Minerals) Concession Amendment Rules, 2024 to further amend the Minerals (Other than Atomic and Hydro Carbons Energy Minerals) Concession Rules, 2016.
This shall come into force on January 21, 2024
The following has been amended namely: -
• In rule 3 which states “Applicability” for the words, brackets, figures, and letters, “and (ii) minerals listed in Part A and Part B of the First Schedule to the Act”, the following clause shall be substituted, namely: —
“(ii) minerals listed in Part A of the First Schedule to the Act; and (iii) minerals listed in Part B of the First Schedule to the Act having grade equal to or more than the threshold value as specified under the Atomic Minerals Concession Rules, 2016”.
• In Irule 10 which states “Renewal of a prospecting license of the composite license”, the following rule shall be inserted, namely: —
“10A. Extension of period of exploration license.— (1) An application for extension of an exploration license under sub-section (10) of section 10BA for the purpose of completing reconnaissance or prospecting operations or both shall be made three years from the date of its execution but at least ninety days before the expiry of the license and shall be accompanied by a statement containing the following, namely:—
(a) reasons for seeking such extension beyond five years from the date of execution of the exploration license deed;
(b) a report of the details of reconnaissance or prospecting operations or both undertaken by the applicant in the format as specified under rule 9 of the Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 2017;
(c) the details of the area retained by the exploration license including the boundaries of that area;
(d) the details of expenditure incurred;
(e) the number of man-days for which the work was undertaken; and
(f) the justification for the additional period required to complete the prospecting work.
[Notification No. G.S.R. 50(E)]
