The Directorate of Mines is responsible for managing and regulating mineral rights and resources in Namibia. We offer a variety of mineral licenses to support exploration, development, and mining activities. For further information and assistance, please contact the Directorate of Mines or view the application forms below.
Mineral Rights and Resources Development
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Strategic Focus
The Mineral Rights & Resources Development Division plays a central role in ensuring the transparent and responsible allocation of mineral rights.
Primary Focus
- To accept and evaluate applications for mineral rights, licences and permits.
- Provide information and guidance on mineral rights, licences and permits.
Mandate
- Processing applications for mineral rights, licences and permits ensuring they meet legal and regulatory requirements.
- Managing resources to optimise its use and ensure fair contribution to national development.
- Overseeing compliance with operational standards through monitoring.
- Enforcing regulatory requirements related to the sector.
- Engaging stakeholders, e.g., communities, industry players, government and non-governmental agencies, to address concerns and facilitate cooperation.
- Attract and facilitate investment in the sector to boost economic growth and development.
Activities
- Conducting visits at prospecting and mining sites to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Investigating allegations of non-compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Facilitating information sharing platforms to address concerns and facilitate cooperation.
- Participating in investment forums to boost economic growth and development of the minerals sector.
Available Mineral Licences
- Non-Exclusive Prospecting Licenses (NEPL): A general license for preliminary exploration, valid for six months.
- Mining Claims (MC): For small-scale mining by Namibian citizens, valid for three years with possible extensions.
- Reconnaissance Licenses (RL): For regional exploration, valid for six months.
- Exclusive Prospecting Licenses (EPL): Grants exclusive exploration rights for a specific area, valid for three years with possible extensions.
- Mineral Deposit Retention Licenses (MDRL): Allows retention of tenure without mining obligations, valid for five years with possible renewals.
- Mining Licenses (ML): Grants exclusive mining rights for a specific area, valid for 25 years with possible renewals.
- Transfers and Joint Ventures (JV): Facilitates the transfer or joint venture of mineral licenses.
- Amendments: Allows for changes to existing mineral licenses, such as adding commodity groups or adjusting area sizes.
- Export Permits: Required for exporting minerals outside of Namibia. High Value Mineral Permits (HVM): For the trade of semi-precious minerals.
Application Forms
Please find the relevant application forms below:
- NEPL: Application form for Company or Application form for Natural Person
- MC: Application form for Company or Application form for Natural Person
- RL: Application form
- EPL: Application form for New EPL or Application form for EPL Renewal
- MDRL: Application form
- ML: Application form
- Transfers/JV: Application form for EPL Transfer or Application form for Transfer of Mining Claims
- Amendments: Application form
- Export Permits: Application form
- HVM: Application form for New or Application form for Renewal