https://2424.mg/secteur-extractif-le-nouveau-ministre-des-mines-carl-andriamparany-face-au-degel-des-permis-miniers/
EXTRACTIVE SECTOR – The new Minister of Mines, Carl Andriamparany, is expected to address the unfreezing of mining permits
Antananarivo, October 31, 8:15 a.m. – Carl Andriamparany will have to move from advocacy to action. This former executive secretary of the Chamber of Mines, a leading figure in the fight to unfreeze pending mining permit applications, is now the new Minister of Mines tasked with this process. The issue was briefly raised by the outgoing minister, Herindrainy Rakotomalala, during the handover ceremony between the two officials on Wednesday.
The handover between the outgoing and incoming ministers was more than just a formality. The issue of mining permits was at the heart of the concerns of those who attended the event. Mining industry representatives had already warned of the sector's vulnerability due to the permit freeze well beforehand. They argued that this freeze had brought exploration activity to a complete halt, delayed major infrastructure projects, and deprived the country of hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign direct investment.
The mining sector reform process had already begun and is in its implementation phase, former minister Herindrainy Rakotomalala maintained. Its implementation had already started modestly, notably with the renewal of some mining permits. The former head of the mining administration pointed out that he had not issued any operating permits. “We haven’t reached that stage yet, due to the coordination efforts we’ve undertaken with the World Bank,” he explained.
Herindrainy Rakotomalala also indicated that he had followed a cleanup plan. “The ministry will now therefore engage in this phase of concrete implementation, and I wish the new minister every success in his mission for the development of the nation,” he declared.
When questioned on the matter, the new minister, Carl Andriamparany, explained that “good governance is essential for improving management, and we will begin by implementing it within this ministry.” He indicated that several agencies attached to the Ministry of Mines have been under interim management for many years. “It is therefore imperative to reorganize the ministry's services in order to achieve this objective of good governance,” he announced.
The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Madagascar Reconciliation Report, published towards the end of December 2024, indicated that 1,415 permits were in the process of being transferred. Being in the process means that these permits still have files awaiting signature from the mining administration for their renewal, modification, or transfer.
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