ZMF calls for the rejection of speculative EPOs
The Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) has called on the government to reject Exclusive Prospecting orders (EPOs) which are held for speculative reasons and give local Zimbabweans a 3-month reprieve to apply.
Rudairo Mapuranga
Speaking to the media before an engagement Meeting Between the Permanent Secretary (Ministry of Mines and Mining Development) and, the ZMF Provincial Executive on Thursday, the Federation President Ms Henrietta Rushwaya said the government should expedite the granting or rejection of EPOs to facilitate production in reserved areas as most areas where EPOs are neither accepted nor disapproved have been idle with no production taking place.
She also urged the government to create and implement a policy, which is currently barring small-scale miners from accessing mining claims held under EPOs for speculative purposes as this will allow Artisanal and Small-Scale the right to go and peg in the areas for production.
“The issue to do with EPOs has become a thorn in the flesh in the sense that they are affecting the generality of our people at large. If the government could be amenable to the situation where they can have EPOs rejected or accepted in the shortest possible time. If the government could be friendly enough to reject EPOs applied for speculative purposes, there are certain EPO applicants you can well note that they have no capacity to do exploration. If the government, once rejecting an EPO, could be in a position to allow local Zimbabweans who would want to mine a moratorium of at least 3 months where they are given the window to go and peg and apply for certain pieces of land within that EPO that has been rejected. This will enable local people to peg from areas within their village homes,” Rushwaya said.
What is an EPO?
An EPO is a large area of ground targeting the selected minerals for exploration. The maximum is 65,000 hectares in Zimbabwe and a minimum size is up to the company to choose. EPO’s tenure is 3 years with an option to renew for another 3 years.
EPOs are used by companies as first-pass exploration areas. This means that companies after doing the highly technical exploration studies will eventually drop the EPO ground in 3 years.
How are EPOs issued?
Large-scale exploration is carried out under licenses issued by the Head of State and administered by the Mining Affairs Board as per the provisions of Mines and Minerals Act 12:05. Two titles are issued under large-scale exploration depending on the mineral to be explored according to the act, which are Special Grant (SG) for energy minerals like Coal Bed Methane, natural gas, oil, and uranium to mention, and EPOs for other minerals, example base metals, gold, diamond to mention.