During a press conference held yesterday, ahead of the launch of the Open Days (JPO) for the mining sector (from September 18 to 26), Minister Birame Soulèye Diop declared that more than 95% of mining title applications submitted to the technical committee responsible for their examination are rejected for non-compliance with regulations.

"Speaking of the procedures governing the granting, renewal and management of mining titles, more than 95% of the title application files examined by the technical investigation committee are currently rejected for non-compliance with legal and regulatory requirements," he said.

The Minister of Energy, Petroleum and Mines explained that in addition to regulatory compliance issues, irregularities are being noted on the ground, both administratively and environmentally, technically and socially.

Speaking to the press, Birame Soulèye Diop provided details on the procedures governing the granting of mining titles.

"Never, not once, have I intervened in a case, and all my colleagues can testify to that. I often hear that the minister has stopped a sand quarry or something else, but these are rumors; it's the committee that handles the cases, so we've never arrested anyone," he defended himself.

And he insisted: "If a file is complete and meets the criteria, there is no one who can thwart it or reject it, it is impossible. It will be processed without a doubt."

He maintains that "the decision to organize Open Days for the mining sector, in the 5 geological and mining centers of Senegal, has revealed serious irregularities, illegal exploitation, environmental damage and violations of regulations."

According to the Minister, this transparency initiative marks an essential step towards ethical, sustainable and inclusive governance of the geology, mining and quarrying sub-sector. The aim is to reform it in depth and put an end to non-compliant practices.