Minerals Report - International Seabed Authority

mining lease, special mining lease, etc. The draft policy document covers
mineral deposits including sand, gravel, diamonds, black sands, oil, naturally
occurring hydrocarbons, polymetallic nodules, ferromanganese crusts and
polymetallic sulphides deposits. Based on the application of land licensing
procedures, it has been proposed that there should be five different types of
tenements to be issued for offshore mining. These are Prospector’s Rights,
Exploration Licence, Mining Lease, Lease for Mining Purpose and Mining
Easement. The Prospector’s Right would normally be for three years in
unrestricted areas on a non-exclusive basis. The Exploration Licence will be
for an initial period of five years in an area of 1,000 sub blocks corresponding
to 3,410 sq km, with exclusive rights. The pilot mining test will be a part of
the Exploration Licence to test the mining technology and the system. The
Mining Lease will be for a term which is negotiable, and covers an area less
than the area covered by the Exploration Licence, with exclusive rights. The
Lease for Mining Purposes is again an exclusive right for installation of
facilities for mining purposes and is need dependent. The Mining Easement is
also need dependent but with non-exclusive rights for the purpose of use the
of structures like pipes, access ways, etc. Offshore mining procedures also
provide for necessary environmental approvals prior to granting of
exploration or mining tenements. Dr. Wanjik stated that by introducing
prospector’s rights as a form of license separate from exploration, the
confusion between marine scientific research and exploration has somewhat
been removed.
In terms of data, information and reporting requirements, Dr. Wanjik
noted that the Mining Act of 1992 does not distinquish between prospecting
and exploration. The reporting matters include geological mapping,
geochemistry, geophysics, drilling, bulk sampling and pre-feasibility and
feasibility studies. The requirements under the draft offshore minerals policy
are more specific and cover the broad areas of resources, environment and
technology. In respect of resources, Dr. Wanjik stated that data and
information are required to ascertain the extent of the resources and for
resources to be classified as mineable reserves. On environment, Dr. Wanjik
informed the workshop that data and information relating to factors such as
salinity, pressure, chemistry, deep-sea currents, benthic flora and fauna and
their habitats are required to enable appropriate design or modification of
exploration and mining technology. As regards technology, while cautioning
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