The Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification has warned "dormant mines and mineral investors in the Solomon Islands" to prove themselves worthy of investing in the country within the next 24 months or have their licenses cancelled.
Minister Mark Kemakeza says from this year his ministry will be "getting on the back of mineral investors to ensure that they progress hand in hand with landowners and fulfill their terms and conditions under the Minerals Act."He says his ministry will have no mercy but "terminate investors who are incompetent and proved to be interested only on sucking out valuable resources from the country."
Mr Kemakeza says he is very concerned that there are some investors who have been operating under prospectors license over the past ten years and are still under performing.