Policy and regulation of Ireland’s
exploration and mining sector
EurGeol Dr. Eibhlín Doyle PGeo
Head of Exploration and Mining Division, Technical
[email protected]
Format of presentation
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Ireland’s mineral history
Ireland’s potential
Exploration and Mining Regulation
Data made available free of charge
Promotion of inward investment
Value of the industry
MIN WIN-WIN – Brussels – 20 & 21 November 2014
Co-organised by European Federation of Geologists (EFG) & Pan‐European Reserves & Resources Reporting Committee (PERC)
Ireland’s Mining History
MIN WIN-WIN – Brussels – 20 & 21 November 2014
Co-organised by European Federation of Geologists (EFG) & Pan‐European Reserves & Resources Reporting Committee (PERC)
Irish Mineral
Deposits
MIN WIN-WIN – Brussels – 20 & 21 November 2014
Co-organised by European Federation of Geologists (EFG) & Pan‐European Reserves & Resources Reporting Committee (PERC)
Mineral potential
• Ireland has a proven track record for mineral
exploration and development
• Europe now recognises need for supply of
minerals to European industry
– Develop minerals within Europe
– Alliances with countries to supply Europe
– Recycling and resource efficiency
MIN WIN-WIN – Brussels – 20 & 21 November 2014
Co-organised by European Federation of Geologists (EFG) & Pan‐European Reserves & Resources Reporting Committee (PERC)
Regulation of Ireland’s Minerals
Industry
• Exploration & Mining Division sets policy and
regulates the minerals industry, it is a line
Division of DCENR
• Small Unit (4 Geological Staff supported by 6
administrative staff)
• Charged with:
– Development of minerals policy and legislation
– Regulating the exploration and mining sectors
– Promoting Ireland internationally as a favourable
location to carry out mineral exploration and mining
– Rehabilitation of certain historic mine sites
MIN WIN-WIN – Brussels – 20 & 21 November 2014
Co-organised by European Federation of Geologists (EFG) & Pan‐European Reserves & Resources Reporting Committee (PERC)
Legislation
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Minerals Development Act 1940
Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act 1960
Minerals Development Act 1979
Minerals Development Act 1995
Minerals Development Act 1999
[Collectively, Minerals Development Acts 1940 to 1999]
Energy Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2006
Land Acts (1903, 1923)
MIN WIN-WIN – Brussels – 20 & 21 November 2014
Co-organised by European Federation of Geologists (EFG) & Pan‐European Reserves & Resources Reporting Committee (PERC)
New Minerals Bill
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New Minerals Bill in draft
Consolidation of previous legislation
Modernisation
To be enacted 2015
MIN WIN-WIN – Brussels – 20 & 21 November 2014
Co-organised by European Federation of Geologists (EFG) & Pan‐European Reserves & Resources Reporting Committee (PERC)
Ireland’s Regulatory System for
Mineral Exploration
• Must obtain a Prospecting Licence (PL) from
State.
• A PL gives the holder the right to explore for
certain minerals in a specified Prospecting
Licence Area (approx. 35km2).
• PL is initially issued for six years – with a
commitment to an exploration programme and
expenditure which is monitored.
• Licensees must submit detailed work reports
(“company exploration reports”) every two years.
MIN WIN-WIN – Brussels – 20 & 21 November 2014
Co-organised by European Federation of Geologists (EFG) & Pan‐European Reserves & Resources Reporting Committee (PERC)
Exploration Company Reports
• Work reports must contain details of ALL work
carried out by the licensee and ALL results arising
from their prospecting activities.
• Must be submitted in appropriate digital format
(e.g. PDF, Word, shp files, excel, SEG Y, XYZ
format)
• A typical work report includes results of
geological mapping, geochemical exploration,
diamond drilling (logs and assays) & ground
geophysics.
MIN WIN-WIN – Brussels – 20 & 21 November 2014
Co-organised by European Federation of Geologists (EFG) & Pan‐European Reserves & Resources Reporting Committee (PERC)
Current Status
2014
• 643 current PLs
•3 Mines operating and one in closure
mode (Zinc/lead and gypsum)
•4 other (coal, fireclay, marble)
44 Companies currently operating in
Ireland
Fraser Institute Survey Ranked 4th
overall out of 108 jurisdictions
MIN WIN-WIN – Brussels – 20 & 21 November 2014
Co-organised by European Federation of Geologists (EFG) & Pan‐European Reserves & Resources Reporting Committee (PERC)
Minerals being explored for
MIN WIN-WIN – Brussels – 20 & 21 November 2014
Co-organised by European Federation of Geologists (EFG) & Pan‐European Reserves & Resources Reporting Committee (PERC)
Prospecting Licences 2000-2014
MIN WIN-WIN – Brussels – 20 & 21 November 2014
Co-organised by European Federation of Geologists (EFG) & Pan‐European Reserves & Resources Reporting Committee (PERC)
Mining Licence
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PL gives security of tenure.
Planning permission from the Local Authority
IPPC from the EPA
State Mining Facility from Department of
Communications, Energy and Natural
Resources
MIN WIN-WIN – Brussels – 20 & 21 November 2014
Co-organised by European Federation of Geologists (EFG) & Pan‐European Reserves & Resources Reporting Committee (PERC)
Mines
Kingscourt Gypsum
Galmoy
Navan Mine
Lisheen Mine
MIN WIN-WIN – Brussels – 20 & 21 November 2014
Co-organised by European Federation of Geologists (EFG) & Pan‐European Reserves & Resources Reporting Committee (PERC)
Exploration reports are made
publically available
• Information submitted by exploration companies
is made available after six years or when PL is
surrendered.
• Publically available information includes:
– Thousands of company exploration reports
– Regional airborne geophysics datasets (>30% of
Ireland)
– Various geospatial datasets (e.g. boreholes, PL Area
boundaries, mineral deposits, historic mines, etc.)
• All data is FREE and available in digital format.
MIN WIN-WIN – Brussels – 20 & 21 November 2014
Co-organised by European Federation of Geologists (EFG) & Pan‐European Reserves & Resources Reporting Committee (PERC)
Available Airborne Geophysical Data
• Approx. 40 surveys since 1985
• Majority of surveys over
Lower Carboniferous
• Most common surveys are
magnetics and EM
• Must lodge all raw, processed
and interpreted data with
EMD (ASCII and Geosoft .gdb
& .grd formats)
• Held confidential for 4 years
after lodgement date
• Available on CD
• In addition GSI also make data
available free of charge
MIN WIN-WIN – Brussels – 20 & 21 November 2014
Co-organised by European Federation of Geologists (EFG) & Pan‐European Reserves & Resources Reporting Committee (PERC)
MIN WIN-WIN – Brussels – 20 & 21 November 2014
Co-organised by European Federation of Geologists (EFG) & Pan‐European Reserves & Resources Reporting Committee (PERC)
MIN WIN-WIN – Brussels – 20 & 21 November 2014
Co-organised by European Federation of Geologists (EFG) & Pan‐European Reserves & Resources Reporting Committee (PERC)
Showcasing Ireland at PDAC
MIN WIN-WIN – Brussels – 20 & 21 November 2014
Co-organised by European Federation of Geologists (EFG) & Pan‐European Reserves & Resources Reporting Committee (PERC)
Challenges
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Does Ireland benefit overall?
Environment?
What about legacy clean ups?
Increasing regulation &
legislation
• Some positives – Heritage
MIN WIN-WIN – Brussels – 20 & 21 November 2014
Co-organised by European Federation of Geologists (EFG) & Pan‐European Reserves & Resources Reporting Committee (PERC)
Avoca, Co. Wicklow
MIN WIN-WIN – Brussels – 20 & 21 November 2014
Co-organised by European Federation of Geologists (EFG) & Pan‐European Reserves & Resources Reporting Committee (PERC)
A study of Economic Value of the
Minerals Industry - Indecon
• Results of the Economic Value Study will:
– Inform delivery of the Minerals Development Bill
– Support royalty negotiations
– Provide data to respond to questions
– Support the industry and the Department
MIN WIN-WIN – Brussels – 20 & 21 November 2014
Co-organised by European Federation of Geologists (EFG) & Pan‐European Reserves & Resources Reporting Committee (PERC)
Scope of the Study
• Quantify the number of jobs in and
supported by the industry in Ireland
• Quantify tax and other revenues generated for
the exchequer
• Determine overall economic multiplier
• Determine Gross value added contribution
• Identify wider economy impacts
MIN WIN-WIN – Brussels – 20 & 21 November 2014
Co-organised by European Federation of Geologists (EFG) & Pan‐European Reserves & Resources Reporting Committee (PERC)
Economic contribution of Mineral Exploration and Mining in Ireland
MIN WIN-WIN – Brussels – 20 & 21 November 2014
Co-organised by European Federation of Geologists (EFG) & Pan‐European Reserves & Resources Reporting Committee (PERC)
Want more information?
Contact:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Or visit:
http://www.dcenr.gov.ie
www.mineralsireland.ie
www.dcenr.gov.ie/Spatial+Data/
www.gsi.ie
MIN WIN-WIN – Brussels – 20 & 21 November 2014
Co-organised by European Federation of Geologists (EFG) & Pan‐European Reserves & Resources Reporting Committee (PERC)
Thank You for Listening
MIN WIN-WIN – Brussels – 20 & 21 November 2014
Co-organised by European Federation of Geologists (EFG) & Pan‐European Reserves & Resources Reporting Committee (PERC)