Review of Mineral Licensing - Call for Evidence

Ministerial Foreword

As Economy Minister, I am committed to bringing forward a new minerals policy for this region. This Call for Evidence is an opportunity for you to help shape an approach that supports economic development, advances the transition to net zero and protects our natural environment.

The development of mineral resources must be guided by sustainability, fairness, and community benefit, ensuring activity is ethical, environmentally responsible and delivers tangible value to local communities. 

We are committed to a just transition - one that supports workers, empowers communities, and ensures economic opportunity does not come at the expense of environmental integrity. I encourage all stakeholders to contribute evidence to help us build a new policy that serves the public interest, supports the economy and safeguards our natural heritage for future generations.

Dr Caoimhe Archibald 

Minister for the Economy

 

Strategies and Research

Below is a list of notable strategies and studies referenced in this Call for Evidence (CfE) or considered important for minerals policy. You are invited to submit additional sources as part of your response that you think are relevant.

Strategies 

• Northern Ireland Energy Strategy ‘Path to Net Zero Energy’
• The UK Critical Mineral Strategy
• EU Critical Raw Materials Act
• Draft Circular Economy Strategy for Northern Ireland 

Research

• Research study into the potential economic, societal and environmental impacts of mineral exploration and mining in Northern Ireland, Minviro Limited, April 2022 (referenced through as ‘Minviro 2022’)
• Preliminary Assessment of Critical Raw Material prospectivity in association with Gold/Copper in Dalradian Supergroup
• Study on Circular Economy for Critical Minerals in Northern Ireland
• Geological assessment of Graphite in Northern Ireland
• Lithogeochemical Analysis of Antimony Bearing Rocks of the Longford Down Area
• Antrim Lava Group – Vanadium Report 2025,  Vanadium in lateritic lithomarge in Northern Ireland

 

Introduction

Context

Minerals are fundamental to modern life. They underpin infrastructure, manufacturing, technology and energy systems. As global priorities shift towards low carbon and renewable technologies, the demand for certain minerals has increased significantly. This shift has led to the designation of some minerals as Critical Raw Materials (CRMs), resources that are essential to the energy transition but face supply risks due to limited availability, geopolitical factors, or environmental constraints. CRMs are vital components in technologies such as wind turbines, solar panels, and electric vehicles, and securing access to them has become a strategic priority globally.

Exploration and Development

Mineral prospecting¹, also known as exploration, is the systematic search for mineral deposits while extraction, also known as development or mining, is the removal of minerals from the ground. 

These activities are regulated here under several legislative frameworks, with the most significant being the Mineral Development Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 “the Act”. The Act vests most minerals in the Department for the Economy with one significant exception being precious metals (gold and silver), which remain under the control of the Crown Estate Commissioners. 

Exploration and development are not new to Northern Ireland. Since the introduction of the Act in 1969, the Department has issued approximately 290 Mineral Prospecting Licences (MPLs) and currently there are eight active MPLs in place across the region.

Since the introduction of the Act, the Department has licensed two mines, one of which remains active today. Started in 1965, The Irish Salt Mining & Exploration Co. Ltd, is the only salt mine in Ireland, and one of only three salt mines in the UK. Based at Kilroot, 3 miles northeast of Carrickfergus on the northern shore of Belfast Lough, the company produces around 500,000 tonnes of de-icing rock salt per annum supplying local road authorities and motorway maintenance contractors. The company has around 60 full-time employees and regularly employs outside contractors to assist in the operation throughout the year.

There is also a mining legacy here that dates back centuries and forms an important part of the industrial heritage in many areas. From the seventeenth century onwards, there was a large expansion of underground mining that continued into the Industrial Revolution. A variety of commodities were extracted including coal, iron ore, bauxite, fireclay, lead, copper, feldspar and salt. Some of these minerals were used to build and power our towns and cities, while others underpinned key industries such as pottery, and supported wider industrial development such as using bauxite for the aircraft industry.

The development of mining resulted in a number of socio-economic benefits and infrastructure development in many areas including Coalisland, Ballycastle and the Mid-Antrim area. The Department is responsible for the approximately 2,400 disused (abandoned) mine workings across the region.

More information on mining and exploration licences issued by the Department can be found at Minerals licensing.

The Review of Mineral Licensing

This CfE is part of a comprehensive review of mineral licensing policy. At the outset of the review, the Department commissioned Minviro Limited to research the economic, societal, and environmental impacts of mineral exploration and mining in Northern Ireland. Their findings highlighted a range of potential economic benefits alongside environmental and social risks. From this, the Department identified three priority themes:

• Stakeholder Engagement 
• Prospectivity Research and Security of Supply Considerations
• Updating the regulatory framework for mineral licensing

Work is underway to address these areas and this CfE seeks further input.

As the review anticipates changes to the legislation governing mineral licensing, the Department is required under Section 5 (2)(b) Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004 to carry out a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA). In September 2025, Tetra Tech RPS was awarded the contract to complete these two assessments. The SEA and HRA will help inform the development of a future policy. 

This CfE is your opportunity to provide contributions that ensure strong community protections, economic alignment, robust regulatory frameworks, and address environmental concerns to help shape a future minerals policy. Your insights will play a valuable role in informing our policies and decisions. 

Chapter 1 - Community Protections and Social Licence

A social licence refers to the informal, ongoing acceptance and approval provided by the public or community to an industry, project, or organisation, enabling it to operate. This concept extends beyond legal permits and involves building trust, maintaining consistent communication, ensuring transparency, and aligning with societal values. 

It is necessary for future minerals policy to receive support from local communities to function effectively. According to Minviro 2022, ‘Globally, the vision for the modern model mine has been shifting in parallel with the evolving notion of sustainable development and changing expectations of mining sector stakeholders. In the new millennium, managing negative social impacts and enhancing the positive came into sharper focus.’² 

International mining policies are influencing higher standards in environmental, social, and governance practices.³ The intention is for future mineral policy here to be informed by these developments and to meet high standards in environmental, social and governance areas.

Recent challenges in granting MPLs show that future policy must emphasise community protections and securing a social licence to operate. The Department recognises that there are multiple areas where best practice is required to ensure that policy frameworks incorporate protections including:

• Environmental safeguards, 
• Public health and safety,
• Economic inclusion and fair compensation, and
• Cultural respect and preservation.
• Environmental safeguards, 

The Department seeks feedback and supporting evidence on approaches to community engagement that could help foster agreement, where possible, within future licensing policies and decisions.

Where feasible, responses are requested in relation to the following questions: 

1.1    What are the best practices for meaningful and sustained community engagement in mineral licensing?

1.2    How can local communities participate more fully in decision-making concerning mineral licensing?

1.3    What systems can promote transparency and accountability in community consultations?

1.4    What are the potential societal benefits and risks with mineral licensing, and how might these be addressed?

1.5    How should the regulatory framework encourage operators to secure and maintain a social licence?

Chapter 2 - Economic Opportunities

The Minviro 2022 research highlights the potential mineral resource in this region and indicates a range of potential economic benefits associated with mineral extraction activities that are contingent upon the scale of development pursued. The research also highlights potential environmental and social impacts, which likewise intensify with increased development. In summary, the research found: 

• Security of supply of raw materials/minerals is essential to grow the green economy.
• This region has potential for certain key mineral resources.
• The decision to pursue mineral exploration and extraction is finely balanced, with many positive and negative aspects for the economy and environment.
• Each commodity has its own specific requirements. Economic impact can be significant, but hinges on many factors to arrive at a commercially successful mine.

Two key principles within the Executive’s Energy Strategy⁴ are: to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy and to grow a green economy. In order to achieve these two objectives and meet net zero goals within the Climate Change (NI) Act 2022, a secure and sustainable supply of raw materials is required, including a range of critical minerals. 

Both the UK Critical Minerals Strategy and the EU Critical Raw Materials Act⁵ set a clear strategic direction on the importance of minerals for future economic growth. As outlined in the UK Critical Minerals Strategy 

“Critical minerals are essential to the UK’s economy, national security, and clean energy transition. UK economic resilience is a core objective of the UK’s Industrial Strategy. As foundational inputs to sectors driving the Industrial Strategy, critical minerals are vital to achieving the government’s mission of stimulating long-term economic growth. However, the global geopolitical landscape and complex supply chains pose persistent challenges to securing these vital resources. In this global, dynamic context, a new approach to critical minerals is required.”⁶

It is recognised, as outlined in both the UK and EU strategies, that there is a need to secure critical minerals through both circular economy approaches and primary extraction.

Circular Economy

The Department is currently working on and supporting a number of initiatives on the circular economy. It has developed and is finalising a Circular Economy Strategy which aims to create an innovative, sustainable and inclusive economy focused on people, planet and prosperity, with responsible production and consumption at its core.  It promotes the three principles of designing things differently to reduce waste, keeping products and materials in use at their highest value and looking for ways to regenerate nature.  With investment in innovation, skills, education and infrastructure the Department aims to reduce Northern Ireland’s demand for virgin materials.  This will be through increasing circular activities like, reuse, repair, reprocessing to maximise the value of materials.  For critical minerals, the Department is supporting a number of initiatives to recycle these materials.  One example of this is Ionic Technologies, which has developed technology to separate and refine rare earth minerals (from spent permanent magnets) to be recycled and applied again in electric vehicles, wind and aerospace. 

Primary Extraction (Mining)

Minviro 2022 assesses the potential mineral resource and indicates a range of potential economic benefits from any future mineral extraction activity while considering the potential environmental and social impacts of varying levels of development ⁷. 

The key economic benefits of mineral exploration and mining include job and wealth creation, infrastructure investment, increased export revenues, and the provision of essential minerals for the industrial, manufacturing and technology sectors. Mineral development can stimulate local economies, support technological advancement, and contribute to public finances through taxation. 

While it is widely recognised that changing the economy to encourage repairing, reusing, refurbishing, and recycling approaches has benefits for both business and the climate, this alone will not meet our current and future demand for minerals.

Our diverse geology has meant that throughout our history we have had a rich heritage of primary extraction. That geology potentially holds deposits of both traditional and critical minerals that could be exploited to meet current local, and possibly global demand, for some minerals.

However, while mineral development presents clear economic opportunities and other potential positive impacts, it is important to also consider the potential negative impacts. 

The Department would greatly value your views, and any supporting evidence, on the future sourcing of minerals, including critical minerals. We are particularly interested in evidence that should inform future decisions on mineral exploration or development within the context of a future minerals policy. This includes the benefits and negative impacts that should be considered.

Where possible, the Department would appreciate it if you could structure your responses using the following questions.

2.1    How can the Department support innovation that will support circularity in particular, materials recovery, secondary materials markets, recycling and circular design in manufacturing?

2.2    What are the key opportunities and challenges for sustainable minerals development?

2.3    What support is needed for businesses to participate in the minerals supply chain?

2.4    Both circular economy practices and primary extraction have been identified as necessary to secure the supply of minerals for the green transition, and other essential industry. What role should we have in ensuring a secure supply of minerals?

2.5    How can the sector contribute to local employment, skills development, and regional growth?

2.6    What are the potential economic benefits of mineral development?

2.7    What are the potential economic negative impacts of mineral development? 

 

Chapter 3 - Legislative and Regulatory Framework

This CfE will inform the development or amendment of legislation for future mineral licensing. It is essential that all aspects of the current framework are considered to ensure any changes are underpinned by a strong and effective regulatory structure.

Through Minviro 2022, it is evident that government policies need to balance the strategic economic need for minerals with strong regulatory framework for each stage of mineral development including exploration, mine design, extraction and mine decommissioning.

Current Mineral Prospecting Licence (MPL) Process

The following section gives an overview of the stages involved in applying for a MPL, including the assessment process and licence terms. Relevant legislation governing this process is: 

• Minerals (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 1959
• Mineral Development Act 1969
• Model Clauses
• Model Clauses 1970
• Model Clauses 1986
• Model Clauses 1991

More information is available at DfE Minerals Legislation and Policy.

The current system is considered an ‘open door’ system for MPLs, allowing mineral prospecting companies to apply at any time for an area of up to 250km², for up to six years. Applications must relate to areas not already covered by an existing MPL. This approach differs from jurisdictions that hold defined ‘licensing rounds’. 

Licensees are required to carry out an agreed Scheme of Prospecting and to report the results of their work to the Department on an annual basis or more frequently if necessary. This information can remain confidential, if the company requires, for up to ten years after which it becomes publicly available. 

While an MPL gives the exclusive right to explore the entire licensed area, other permissions and consents are required depending on the nature of the planned activities. Licensees must provide up to four weeks’ notice of their intention to enter land and must obtain landowner consent. Compensation is payable by the licensee to the landowner for any damage caused during exploration.

An application must include maps, the relevant fee (currently £450), and audited accounts for the previous three years from the applicant company and, if applicable, from any parent company. Applicants must also provide a rationale for the proposed Scheme of Prospecting showing an understanding of existing geological data along with a phased and costed work programme. Financial and technical viability assessments are carried out and if the application is deemed viable, it proceeds to the next stage. 

Once validated, a consultation process begins with a range of statutory and regulatory organisations. The consultation will also be publicised by placing a Public Notice on its intention to grant the licence, in all relevant local and regional press, including the Belfast Gazette, and on the Department’s website. The consultation period lasts 12 weeks. 

Consultation documentation and the Public Notice are shared directly with a range of statutory and non-statutory bodies including all government departments. At the end of the consultation, all feedback is reviewed, and expert advice may be sought to address any concerns. A Consultation Summary Report is produced, detailing all issues raised and the Department’s responses. This report is shared with relevant stakeholders and published online.

Following this, a decision is made on whether to grant the MPL. Often, concerns highlighted during the consultation result in specific conditions being added to the Terms of an MPL, in addition to the Model Clauses set out in the Mineral Regulations. If granted, the licence is signed by both parties and a copy of the licence is published on the Department’s website.

Throughout the licence term, activities are monitored to ensure compliance with the agreed MPL and all relevant legislation and regulations. 

In developing a future minerals policy and regulatory framework, it is important to consider the wider legislative context including environmental, health and safety and planning legislation. 

The Department welcomes your views, and any supporting evidence, on how a future mineral policy and regulatory framework can best meet the needs of our economy and society. 

Where possible, please structure your responses using the following questions. 

3.1      Are current legislative frameworks adequate to manage mineral exploration and extraction?

3.2      What changes, if any, would you recommend to improve the legislative framework? 

3.3      How should mineral development align with broader environmental, economic, and energy policies?

3.4      What role should other stakeholders play in regulating mineral licencing?

3.5      Should the current maximum licence area of 250km² be changed? If so, please include evidence of the benefit of the proposed change.

3.6      What are your views of the current six-year term for an MPL. If you believe a change is required, what should the maximum term be, and what evidence supports this change? 

3.7      Do you consider the current £450 fee for an MPL appropriate? If not, what would a more appropriate fee be and what evidence supports your view?

3.8      Is the current consultation process adequate? If not, what improvements would you suggest? Please provide evidence to support your suggestions.

Chapter 4 - Environmental Issues

While Minviro 2022 acknowledges that there is a proliferation of international environmental, social and governance standards for exploration and mining, the research highlights that the decision to pursue mineral exploration and extraction is finely balanced, with both significant economic opportunities and environmental risks: ‘The importance of addressing the balance between economic benefits and environmental impacts should mining activity progress in Northern Ireland cannot be overstated, and will inevitably form the cornerstone of all discussions moving forward for the country’⁸

Recent challenges to the granting of mineral prospecting licences have also helped to highlight the impact on the environment of mineral licensing, and the regulatory framework in which it operates, are extremely important factors to be considered in any future mineral licensing policy.

To better understand the significance of the environmental issues associated with mineral licensing, and to meet the legislative requirement when introducing a change to the mineral licensing policy, the Department has contracted Tetra Tech RPS to carry out an extensive Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and a Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA) on mineral licensing. It is expected that these assessments will take up to 18 months to complete, will feature a dedicated public consultation process, and will help inform a future minerals policy.

The Department is keen to hear your views, with supporting evidence, on the environmental issues that a future mineral policy needs to address. This will help us strike the right balance between meeting our mineral needs and protecting natural environment. 

Where possible, we would appreciate it if you could structure your responses using the following questions. 

4.1       What are the environmental impacts associated with mineral exploration? 

4.2       What are the environmental impacts associated with mineral extraction / mining?

4.3       What environmental safeguards need to be put in place for mineral exploration?

4.4       What environmental safeguards need to be put in place for mineral extraction / mining?

4.5       What types of mitigation measures are appropriate to address environmental impacts from mineral exploration?

4.6       What types of mitigation measures are appropriate to address environmental impacts from mineral extraction / mining?

Purpose and How to Respond

Publication dates

Opened from:   Friday 27 February 2026

Closing date:    Thursday 21 May 2026

Purpose and Scope

The Department for the Economy (the Department) is seeking views and evidence to inform the development of a future minerals policy for Northern Ireland. This CfE is part of a review aimed at ensuring future policy supports sustainable economic development, contributes to the transition to low carbon technologies and reflects best practice in environmental stewardship, social responsibility and good governance.

Evidence gathered will inform the development of mineral licensing policy options. Those policy options will be subject to full public consultation and other appropriate assessments and screenings such as Section 75 Equality Screening.

Who Can Respond

We recognise the broad range of stakeholders, each of whom may have unique perspectives and insights to offer on specific topics. We invite stakeholders from diverse backgrounds to contribute their knowledge and experiences including:

• Community organisations and members of the public

• Industry experts and mineral developers

• Environmental advocate and conservation groups
• Local authorities and planning bodies
• Other Government Departments and bodies
• Academics and researchers
• Policymakers
• Any other interested parties

When submitting a response please indicate whether you are replying as an individual or on behalf of an organisation. If responding on behalf of an organisation, please specify the name of the organisation and describe, if applicable, the process by which members' views were gathered.

Content

There are four chapters on the issues identified by the Department as being significant to stakeholders. Questions are included for consideration when formulating a response and respondents are not expected to answer every question. 

The four chapters are:

1. Community Protections and Social Licence
2. Economic Opportunities
3. Legislative and Regulatory framework
4. Environmental Issues

Although the chapters and questions are designed to address key issues identified through experience, feedback on any aspect of mineral licensing, mineral exploration or mineral development is welcome. 

As this CfE will inform future minerals policy, it is important that you provide the evidence you used to formulate your response.

Submitting Your Response

This Call for Evidence is open until 21 May 2026. 

We encourage you to respond to this consultation online where possible, as this is the Department’s preferred method of receiving responses. It is also the most convenient and simple way for you to make a response. 

You can answer the questions by completing the Citizen Space online survey at the following link: 

• Review of Mineral Licensing - Call for Evidence

Responses, including evidence, can also be submitted by email to: mineralsreview@economy-ni.gov.uk

Please use “Future Minerals Policy Call for Evidence” in the subject line if submitting your response by email.

Postal mail responses, including evidence, should be sent to:

Future Minerals Policy Call for Evidence 
Minerals and Petroleum Branch
Department for the Economy 
7th Floor, 
Adelaide House 39-49 
Adelaide Street 
BELFAST
BT2 8FD

Where appropriate, please use the question numbers to clearly indicate which questions your answer relates to.

If you require an alternative format (Braille, audio, CD, etc.), please contact us on mineralsreview@economy-ni.gov.uk and appropriate arrangements will be made as soon as possible.

Next Steps

Following the closure of the CfE, it is intended to develop a CfE Report which will be published on the Department’s website. 

Confidentiality

The CfE Report will not contain personal information from your response but may include anonymised direct quotes from it.  However, you are asked to note that any information provided in responses may be subject to disclosure in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 or the Data Protection Act 2018. 

Within your response, please identify any information which you do not wish to be disclosed (other than personal information that could be used to identify you as an individual) and explain why you regard that information as confidential. An automatic confidentiality disclaimer generated by your IT system will not, of itself, be regarded as binding on the Department. If we receive a request for disclosure of the information we will take full account of your explanation, but we cannot give an assurance that confidentiality can be maintained in all circumstances.

Further information can be found at: DN insert link Minerals and Petroleum Branch Privacy Notice.

References

1. Mineral prospecting - common exploration methods | Department for the Economy
2. Research study into the potential economic, societal and environmental impacts of mineral exploration and mining in Northern Ireland, Minviro Limited, April 2022 p. 205.  
3. Research study into the potential economic, societal and environmental impacts of mineral exploration and mining in Northern Ireland, Minviro Limited, April 2022 chapter 1.3.
4. Energy Strategy
5. EU Critical Raw Materials Act
6. The UK Critical Mineral Strategy
7. Research study into the potential economic, societal and environmental impacts of mineral exploration and mining in Northern Ireland, Minviro Limited, April 2022 chapter 1. 
8. Research study into the potential economic, societal and environmental impacts of mineral exploration and mining in Northern Ireland, Minviro Limited, April 2022 p.206.