MINING SECTOR CAPACITY BUILDING PROJECT

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The Mining Sector Capacity Building Project will strengthen the Government's capacity to facilitate and regulate mining activities, and increase private investment in the sector, which will provide a sound basis for exploitation, over the long term, of the country's natural resources potential. The main components provide for: 1) Capacity building, which will restructure and strengthen the Ministry of Mines and Industry (MMI) towards mining law enforcement. This includes organization and staffing of key administrative units with new procedures, staff training, supply of equipment, and rehabilitation of facilities. Additionally, proper computer based cadastre and mine reporting systems will be established, together with explicit criteria and non-discretionary procedures for granting/foreclosing of mining rights; 2) Geologic infrastructure, which includes the preparation of digital geological maps, and, development of a data base for compilation/update of geological information. Supporting the geological mapping, a geophysic airborne survey will be implemented. Supervision will follow the integration of this component, with a final processing and printing of the digital mapping; 3) Environmental management system, to include capacity building at MMI, for monitoring and enforcement of environmental regulations. Studies will assess and monitor social, cultural, and economic impacts on local communities.