Minerals Report - International Seabed Authority

Ms. Zaamwani said that one of the problems and that was clearly
identified in Mr. Wanjik’s presentation is that when an onshore regime is
extended to an offshore regime; it creates some problems because the
requirements for offshore operators are different insofar as geophysical
surveys are concerned. Ms. Zaamwani said that under Namibian law, all the
data collected during geophysical surveys as well as the interpretation of
these data must be submitted to the Ministry. She said that the requirement
for interpreted data is the source of the problem. She pointed out that is since
the offshore industry is relatively new most operators use very specialized
proprietary computer systems and that data are processed outside Namibia.
She said that this lack of flexibility makes it onerous for operators in the
marine environment. She said that the matter was currently under review by
the Ministry, and that in due time the two regimes might be separated. She
also said that the requirement to submit the raw data has also meant that all
data must be retained, resulting in costly administrative processes to retrieve
the data and then submit it to the Ministry.
Storage and utilization of data.
Ms. Zaamwani said that the Ministry of Mines and Energy through its
directorates, the Geological Survey and the Mines and Energy Departments
are the custodians of the submitted data. She said that at the Geological
Survey, one finds piles and piles of raw data as well as the interpreted data
since submitted data are filed there. She said that these data are not collated,
and in the industry’s view are of no use to the Ministry in that form. She
informed participants that the Ministry is now undertaking a project to
develop the capacity to collate and interpret those data that they receive from
operators.
With regard to the open file system, as a result of which upon
expiration of a prospecting license, the data and information gathered by an
operator are made accessible to anyone interested in the area free of cost, Ms.
Zaamwani said that the industry is uneasy about this approach. She said that
the rationale of the Ministry is that this would facilitate mineral development
and encourage investment. She said that industry was of the opinion that this
provided a free ride to latecomers. Industry is also of the view that perhaps
INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY 779