Mineral and Gemstone Licensing in Myanmar
Licensing serves as the gateway into Myanmar’s lucrative and controversial mining sector. The permitting process determines, in large part, who can participate in the mining sector and under what conditions. Improving governance of the licensing regime is therefore key to elevating economic and social outcomes in the sector.
In Myanmar, the functioning of the licensing system is undermined by an underdeveloped legal framework, poor alignment between existing laws and current practices, and widespread noncompliance with national policies. Processes of reform and revision in the mining sector should include participation by diverse stakeholders. However, a chronic lack of data on many topics continues to impact the quality of public exchange.
With the goal of informing national dialogue over mining issues, NRGI’s briefing surveys accessibility and accuracy of key data on Myanmar’s licensing regime. It addresses key questions of interest to local stakeholders, including:
- What are the legal rules governing licensing?
- What types of licenses are granted?
- Who can acquire a license?
- What steps are required to apply for a license?
- Who reviews and approves license applications?
- How are license applications evaluated?
- What terms are included in licenses?
- How many licenses have been granted?
- Who holds mining licenses?
