Report of the Ad Hoc experts group meeting on the Implementation plan for the harmonization of mining policies, standards, legislative and regulatory frameworks in southern Africa

Abstract

This report presents the outcome of an Ad hoc Experts Group Meeting convened to review a draft implementation plan for the harmonization of mining policies in Southern Africa. The meeting, organized by ECA-SA in collaboration with the SADC Secretariat, took place in Johannesburg, South Africa on 24 to 26 October 2007. Senior Officials from Ministries responsible for Mining from eleven SADC governments and representatives of the private sector attended the meeting. The meeting followed the approval by SADC Ministers responsible for Mines, of a framework for Harmonization of Mining Policies, Standards, Legislative and Regulatory Frameworks in Southern Africa in 2006 and the subsequent endorsement, during the same year, of the framework by the SADC Ministers responsible for Finance and the SADC Intergovernmental Committee of Ministers. The Implementation Plan identifies eight themes to drive the harmonization agenda. The themes are; geological information and mining systems, value addition, innovation and research and development;