New Subsoil Law Signed in Uzbekistan
On October 31, 2024, the President of Uzbekistan signed Law No. ZRU-987 “On Subsoil,” which will come into force on February 2, 2025. This new legislation revises and updates the legal framework for subsoil use, ownership, and protection in Uzbekistan, introducing several updates that affect businesses and investors involved in mining, extraction, and related activities. The law, which expands from 51 articles in the previous version to a comprehensive 172 articles, regulates the exploration and mining of both hard minerals and hydrocarbons.
Key Highlights of the New Law:
The updated law includes directly applicable norms to provide clear, enforceable guidelines for those engaged in subsoil use. Unlike previous regulations that might have required further interpretation or additional legislative acts, the directly applicable norms in this law establish clear rules that companies and individuals must follow, simplifying the legal framework.
These norms define specific requirements for obtaining permits, using subsoil resources, and fulfilling obligations related to reporting and compliance.
Types of Subsoil Use
The law defines specific categories of subsoil use, each with its own regulatory standards. The recognized types of subsoil use are as follows:
- Geological exploration of hard minerals;
- Mining of hard minerals;
- Reconnaissance of hydrocarbons;
- Geological exploration of hydrocarbons;
- Mining of hydrocarbons;
- Geological exploration for underground storage;
- Underground storage;
- Artisanal mining;
- Collection of sample materials for collections.
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