The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, signed the European Integration Law "On Improving Legislation in the sphere of subsoil use" (draft law no. 4187
Document will launch a large-scale modernization and deregulation of the sphere according to the European model, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources reports on Facebook.
The message noted that the law is designed to ensure sustainable subsoil use, maintain a balance with environmental protection, attract necessary investments in the sector and establish effective state control.
Changes for business:
- permitting procedures are simplified;
- duplicate permits are cancelled;
- the number of cases that require the submission of the conclusions of the Ministry of Environment is decreasing;
- it will be possible to obtain a special permit three times faster and start mining in 5 months;
- pass-through licenses are being introduced, i.e. the possibility to obtain one permit at once for both geological study and mineral extraction;
- the possibility of obtaining, outside of the auction, a special permit for the use of subsoil for minerals of local importance is introduced for the owners of land plots within which a subsoil area of up to 25 hectares is located.
The authors emphasized that the new law also introduces digitization of dialogue with the state and free access to geological data. In this way, the Unified State Information System for Subsoil Use will be created, into which all existing registers with geological information will be integrated.
"Enterprises will not only submit documents online for obtaining permits, but will also report on work through the subsurface user's e-cabinet," they emphasized.
The press service noted that the law also introduces guarantees of predictability of work for subsoil users, namely, it fixes all procedural issues precisely at the level of the Code of Ukraine on Subsoil, making changes to which is a more complicated process. After all, frequent changes to by-laws always affect business operations.
"Sustainable development of subsoil use is, first of all, necessary raw materials for the reconstruction of our country, as well as a significant contribution to the support of the national economy and energy security of Ukraine," the message emphasized.
It is noted that the law introduces an economic passport, which will allow Ukrainians to receive part of the income from the rent for the use of subsoil.
The press service explained that the law should make subsoil use in Ukraine stable, transparent and at the same time attractive for investment, ensure equal and free access to subsoil, and make all information as open as possible. And also establish clear control at the state level.
"The law defines the tools for protecting national interests. In particular, a ban has been established on the use of Ukrainian subsoil for citizens and residents of the aggressor country. "Mechanisms for combating illegal mining and solving the problem of "dormant licenses" have also been determined," the message emphasized.
As EcoPolitic reported before, in Ukraine the reform of subsoil use has begun, which is designed to transform the State Geology and Subsoil Service into a service institution, modernize the "rules of the game" and ensure effective control by the state.
