Activities related to the extractive industries and activities that include the diversion or obstruction of natural waterways often require access to customary or privately owned land.
As such, the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification (MMERE) has mechanisms and processes in place to ensure that the rights and concerns of landowners and landowning communities are recognised and addressed while allowing business activities to continue.
This approach allows the Ministry to encourage landowner participation while ensuring that the economic activities of investors in the mining, energy and water management sectors are able to continue with minimum to no disruptions.
The Mines Division’s Economic Geology Section is the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification’s (MMERE) Section responsible for raising public awareness about the impacts of mining activities on landowners and landowning groups.
The Section carries out this role through public engagements under its Community Engagement Project, publication of public awareness materials and through its role input in the establishment of a Solomon Islands Minerals Advisory Centre (SIMAC). This is all carried out by the Ministry in a bid to be more transparent about its processes and work.
Mineral Policy and Bill Awareness
The Solomon Islands Constitution is the country’s supreme law and primary legal safeguard for landowner rights. The Constitution protects lands from being permanently lost to foreign ownership, protects rights to the protection of property and the right not to be unjustly deprived of property. The Constitution also recognises customary land tenure practises which form the basis of customary land ownership.
In addition to the Constitution, Acts of Parliament such as the Mining Act (Cap 42) and the Environment Act 1998 and Government Policies the National Minerals Policy also have sections dedicated to the protection of landowner rights and the environment in which activities such as mineral extraction activities are carried out.
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This section of the website is currently undergoing changes and may become available as content is updated. When the content is vetted and ready for public access it will become visible.