3,000 Mining Permit Applications Under Review

After a 16-year suspension, the issuance of mining permits will officially resume on February 2, 2026. Approximately 3,000 applications, which have been pending for several years, will finally be reviewed.

According to the Directorate General of Mines, the process will be carried out gradually, on a first-come, first-served basis. Those who had already submitted an application can now update their documents to comply with the new Mining Code and its implementing decrees. “The 3,000 applications cannot be processed in a single day, but their processing is now part of the administration’s daily tasks,” the Directorate stated.

Furthermore, the Directorate emphasized that everything will be conducted with transparency and good governance. For the Secretary General of the Ministry of Mines, Rasamimanana Georges, this decision is the result of a lengthy organizational and analytical process. This official explained that the resumption of activity was made possible by the full implementation of the sector’s new legal framework. “This isn’t a new development, but rather an adjustment phase. All the legal and technical conditions are now in place,” he added.

Obtaining a mining permit will take approximately 60 days from the date of application. Currently, no new applications will be accepted; priority is being given to processing existing applications. New applications will be accepted later, once the system is fully operational and after training for new stakeholders in the sector.

The Ministry is already encouraging those wishing to invest in the sector to prepare. Several foreign investors have expressed interest, and two major mining projects are already owned by the state. However, the authorities assure that they will ensure the protection of Malagasy interests and promote the responsible and sustainable exploitation of natural resources.