Mines Law (the State Law and Order Restoration Council Law No 8/94).

The Law provides for all the activities related to mining and exploiting the mineral resources, be them gemstone (ruby, diamonds, opal, sapphire etc.), metallic mineral (iron, gold, silver, zinc, copper, aluminium etc.), industrial mineral (coal, asbestos, etc.) and stone (marble, limestone, quartz, granite etc.). Large scale-production is encouraged as the exportation of mineral products. Permits to mine gemstone and other mineral resources are granted by the Ministry of Mines that shall also supervise all mining activities in order to guarantee the correct exploitation of the resources, their protection as well as the protection of the environment. Land and water utilization are allowed under the provisions of the present Law and, furthermore, the acquisition of land by the State in order to conduct mining operations is provided for. Producers and traders shall pay royalties to the State for all the mineral production sold , at fixed rates. Mineral Reserve Areas shall be declared by the State where mining activities and operations may be carried over and any existing rights on the area shall be compensated for to the land tenants. Mineral resources are property of the State, regardless of the owners of that parcel of land.