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Mines and geology · National Directorate of Mines

Temporary quarry exploitation authorisation

Authorises, for six months at most and renewable once only, the taking of a set quantity of quarry substances from one site — typically a laterite or sand borrow pit for a works contract. Note: if working continues past that, the quarry becomes permanent as from the day it opened — retroactively, with everything that attaches to a permanent quarry.

Version 1

What it allows

To open the site and take from it, for the term fixed, the quantity of substances the authorisation specifies, for the destination it names. It confers no exclusive right over the land.

Who may apply

Any natural or legal person who has the land — as owner, purchaser, or under a making-available. A public or private works site needing borrow material is the ordinary case.

An individualA company

At a glance

Competent authority

National Directorate of Mines

Statutory time

32 days

Valid for

6 months

Renewal

Renewable, from 45 days before it ends

What it costs

  • Fixed issue dutyGNF 1,000,000

    Payable when it is issued · Arrêté conjoint du Ministre chargé des Mines et du Ministre chargé des Finances fixant les droits fixes et redevances du secteur minier

  • Extraction tax (per tonne authorised)GNF 2,000

    Payable when it is issued · Arrêté conjoint du Ministre chargé des Mines et du Ministre chargé des Finances fixant les droits fixes et redevances du secteur minier

Total, filing and issueGNF 1,000,000

What to bring

Some of these depend on your answers; the list narrows as you fill the form in.

  • Owner’s agreement or instrument making the land available

    Required if What is your position in relation to the land? is one of The owner is making the land available to me or State land, made available

    Code minier, art. 65 à 73 (autorisations de carrières)

  • Evidence of the works being served

    A works order, a contract or a building permit. It is what separates a works borrow pit from a quarry being run as a business.

    Code minier, art. 70 (validité des autorisations de carrières)

  • Undertaking to make the site good

    One page is enough: final profile, removal of spoil, restoration of access. A full impact assessment is not required of a temporary quarry.

    Code minier, art. 70 (validité des autorisations de carrières)

Before you start

  • The landowner’s agreement, or the instrument making the land available.
  • The location of the borrow site.
  • The quantity to be taken, what it is for, and how long the taking will last.
  • The undertaking to make the site good when the work ends.

How it is handled

  1. Proposal of the prefectural mines director

    10 days

  2. Preparation and cadastral assessment (DNM)

    10 days

  3. Decision

    5 days

  4. Signature by the National Director of Mines

    5 days

  5. Notification

    2 days

If the answer is no

An appeal may be made to the National Director of Mines within two months of notification, then to the Minister for Mines, and finally before the competent administrative court.

The texts this rests on

  • Code minier, art. 65 à 73 (autorisations de carrières)
  • Code minier, art. 70 (validité des autorisations de carrières)

Versions of this procedure

  • Version 1 · 2026-01-01In force

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