Member of Mining Technical Committee – Technical (Geology/Mining)

 About Mining Technical Committee

The Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan establishes Mining Technical Committee (MTC) based on the provisions of the Minerals law as an independent entity/committee to help the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, and other stakeholders in evaluating, managing, and processing of the mining activities in Afghanistan. The Committee’s objective is to make recommendations and undertake evaluations in respect of administrative decisions under the Minerals law.

The Mining Technical Committee is comprised of seven members, five of which shall be appointed members, of which: (1) at least two must have geological, exploration or mining expertise, (2) at least one must have legal expertise; and (3) at least one must have financial expertise.

Background Information:

The Mining Technical Committee will have five appointed members; which will be recruited from each of the following fields – (1) law, (2) finance, (3) exploration, geological or mining. The members of the MTC with technical expertise and background will be providing comprehensive technical recommendations to the Committee concerning functions/activities of the MTC.

Job Summary

The member of the Mining Technical Committee shall work closely with other members of the MTC, Ministry of Mines and Petroleum and other relevant stakeholders by leveraging his/her [Technical (Geology/Mining)] experience and to review, evaluate, and provide advice on feasibility studies, mining proposals, exploration programs, small-scale work programs and declaration of mining areas. He/she will also be responsible to provide recommendation in respect of the export policies for minerals. The member shall also responsible for evaluation of tender proposals.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Attend and actively participate in the MTC meetings which will be held on regular basis or as deem necessary by the chairperson.
• Review and facilitate for the committee revision and approval of the documents (contracts/ sector specific strategies/policies) concerning to the extractive sector in accordance with the committee’s legal mandate and policy’s objectives of the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum.
• Review and recommend for approval of the committee (MTC) briefs, policies, recommendations and Memorandums developed or being in the process of development by the Ministry of mines and petroleum.
• Review and facilitate for the committee revision and approval of the licensing procedure(s), is being in the drafting process/ will be drafted by the relevant department. The Committee member is also expected to provide inputs, recommendations to the MTC and to department within the ministry being responsible for the licensing procedure and to make sure to be aligned with the provisions of prevailing laws and regulations.
• Screening the tendering process of awarding the mining contracts and issuance of licenses to make assure that the entire process of contract awarding is made in accordance with the existing laws, regulations and procedures and internationally accepted technical standards.
• The committee members in general ( technical adviser in specific) to evaluate and provide recommendation and technical grounds to the MTC in respect of the suspension (being suspended or intended to be suspended) and revocation of Exploration as well as Exploitation Licenses.
• Assist MTC in the management of the mining contracts. Provide opinion in accordance with the pertinent and prevailing laws of Afghanistan. The Committee member is expected to underwrite in MTC functions regarding declaration or cancellation of Large-Scale Mining Areas, Small Scale Mining Areas and Prohibited Areas. The members are also expected to contribute or provide assistant to the stakeholders in the sector in the formulation of environmental and social impact policies, and strategies related to extractive sector.
• Review and provide recommendations to the MTC or concerning MOMP department regarding, impact analysis, feasibility studies, Social and Environmental Impact Assessment studies and any other study that presumably comes under technical studies and mining proposals.
• Reviewing and evaluating applications for the grant of Small-Scale Mining licenses and making necessary recommendations in respect of any conditions relating to small-Scale work programs.
• The MTC- members in general (technical adviser in specific) are expected to focus on technical substances and to provide advices determining any short-fall in relation to Royalty, impact assessment and value addition to the state’s revenue as per the prevailing laws of the country.
• Review mining contracts, provide recommendations in the light of Minerals Law or any other law of Afghanistan concerning to the mining contracts, to the contract management department within the ministry or any other institution as prescribed by the law.
• Making recommendations in respect to the use of existing infrastructure in extractive sector.

Mining Technical Committee