Licences and permits
Obtain a mining operating permit
The 2019 mining code distinguishes the small-scale operating permit, issued by ministerial order for five years, from the large-scale permit, issued by presidential decree for ten or twenty years. Only the exploration permit holder who has proven a deposit can obtain it, on the basis of a feasibility study and an environmental impact assessment.
- Steps
- 5
- Total indicative delay
- Not published
- Total indicative cost
- Proportional or variable fees
- Last validation
- 21 September 2026
- Version 1
- Responsible institution
- Ministry of Mines and Geological Resources
- Freshness
- Up to date
Steps
-
Prove an economically viable deposit
What to do
While the exploration permit is valid, the holder notifies the discovery to the mining administration and proves an economically viable deposit within the perimeter. The operating permit must be requested before the exploration permit expires.
- Institution
- Ministry of Mines and Geological Resources
- Channel
- At the counter
- Delay
- Not published
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Carry out the feasibility study
What to do
The application must, on pain of rejection, include a feasibility study validated by the relevant departments of the ministries in charge of mines and of the economy.
- Institution
- Ministry of Mines and Geological Resources
- Channel
- At the counter
- Delay
- Not published
- Documents
-
Have the environmental impact assessment validated
What to do
The environmental impact assessment, also required on pain of rejection, is validated by the environmental administration.
- Channel
- At the counter
- Delay
- Not published
- Fees
-
- Not published
- Documents
-
File the permit application
What to do
File the application with the minister in charge of mines. Small-scale mining is reserved for companies at least 35% owned by Gabonese nationals; the permit covers at most 50 km². Large-scale mining covers deposits requiring major investment.
- Institution
- Ministry of Mines and Geological Resources
- Channel
- At the counter
- Delay
- Not published
- Fees
-
- Award fees and charges set by regulation
- Documents
-
Obtain the award act and sign the agreement
What to do
The small-scale permit is issued by ministerial order for five years, renewable for three-year periods. The large-scale permit is issued by presidential decree, on the minister's proposal, for ten years (renewable for five-year periods) or twenty years (renewable for ten-year periods). The mining agreement sets production sharing among other terms.
- Institution
- Ministry of Mines and Geological Resources
- Channel
- At the counter
- Delay
- Not published
Process diagram (BPMN)
The diagram cannot be displayed: the BPMN file is invalid.
Documents to prepare
Tick each document as you go. Official templates can be downloaded when they exist.
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Study required, on pain of rejection, for any mining operating permit application. It is validated by the ministries in charge of mines and of the economy.
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Study assessing the project's effects on the environment, validated by the environmental administration. The mining code requires it for operating permit applications.
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Documents required by article 15 of the mining code: identity, address, articles and registration data of the company and of its technical shareholders, NIF, CNSS number, annual reports for the last two years, qualifications and references...
Fees
Legal basis
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Code
Mining code
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