Overview of Mineral Sector Regulation in Niger

=Regulatory Bodies=

The mining industry in Niger is regulated by the Nigerien Ministry of Mines and Industrial Development, which replaced the Ministry of Mines and Energy in September 2011.

Niger's current mining legislation was first passed in 1993, and later amended in 1999 and 2006. Following the adoption of the Nigerien Mining Code 2006 the National Office for Mining Exploration (ONAREM) was replaced by two newly created bodies: the Centre for Geological and Mining Exploration (CRGM), and Société du Patrimoine des Mines du Niger (SOPAMIN), which oversees Niger’s mining assets. SOPAMIN was given control of the state’s shares in the existing uranium companies and was made responsible for the marketing of Niger's minerals.

Upon issuing a mining permit, the Nigerien State is entitled to free shares in the mining project representing 10 percent of the capital, but their stake must not exceed 33 percent.

=Mining Code 2006=

The Nigerien Mining Code 2006 clarifies the different phases of mining and quarrying, from exploration to production, and identifies which permit or licence is relevant to each phase. The code details specific conditions for employment, requiring mining companies operating in Niger to give preference to local workers and provide training for locals. The code also states that if health and safety regulations are not met then the rights to explore or extract minerals will be terminated.

=Resource Transparency Measures=

Niger's mineral industry is constitutionally bound to resource transparency measures. Article 150 of the 2010 constitution stipulates that the mining contracts and national revenues for each company are to be published in the country's official gazette.

=References=