President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy put into effect the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of March 25, 2021 "On the state of affairs in the field of subsoil use." As noted in the document, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine recommends that the Prime Minister of Ukraine instruct the State Service of Geology and Subsoil to ensure that in 2021 unscheduled inspections of the activities of business entities that have received special permits based on the results of testing mineral reserves without a special permit for use outside the auction subsoil for the purpose of geological study, including pilot development.
“Until March 2019, there were almost no auctions, basically there was a lottery drawing with artificially limited competition, most of the special permits were issued through approbation,” said Roman Opimakh, the head of the State Geonedr. - We regularly announce auctions. Thus, at the end of 2020, more lots were sold through the Prozorro system and at a higher price than in all previous years. Accordingly, the number of licenses obtained through e-tenders is growing rapidly, reaching 45% last year. ”
It is also planned to conduct an audit of oil and gas subsoil, including those where production has not begun within two years after obtaining permits or after the approval of balance reserves of hydrocarbons with a special permit for the purpose of geological exploration, including pilot development, followed by prey. And check the objects where there is no production for ten years after obtaining licenses for the purpose of geological exploration, including pilot development, with subsequent production.
Together with law enforcement agencies, Gosgeonedram has been instructed to process information from local authorities about illegal mining in the regions.
In addition, the Head of State instructed the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to provide support in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for two draft laws: "On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine Concerning Strengthening Liability for Illegal Extraction of Mineral Resources" (registration No. 3576) and "On Amendments to some legislative acts of Ukraine to support the development of domestic industries of subsoil use "(registration number 4187). And also to submit for consideration by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine bills on updating the provisions of the National Program for the Development of Ukraine's Mineral Resources Base for the Period until 2030.
Within a week, state experts on secrets will need to work out the issue of canceling decisions on classifying information in the field of subsoil use as state secrets and submit appropriate decisions to cancel the Security Service of Ukraine to make the necessary changes to the Code of information constituting a state secret.
"Not a single country in Europe uses methods of closing information about minerals," says the chairman of the State Geological Survey. - Opening and simplifying access to geological information on reserves and resources classified as "secret" and "for official use" is a very urgent issue. If we want to attract investors to large projects, we must get it moving in the near future. ”
