Abstract
For the purpose of this work land access refers to the legal framework for foreign investors to enter on the land of a third party to conduct activities necessary to realize a mining project. This may include activities such as transport, drilling and establishing and using production facilities. If applicable for the respective country, the question of land access may also include the relationship of the foreign investor with Indigenous, Tribal or Indian-/Afro-Colombian titleholders and local governments and their respective planning authorities.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
Bakheit (2005), p. 1.
- 2.
Bakheit (2005), p. 3.
- 3.
Department of Natural Resources and Mines (2014).
- 4.
Department of Natural Resources and Mines (2014).
- 5.
A detailed guide on land management in Queensland, Australia can be found at: Queensland Government (2013).
- 6.
According to section 777 of the MRA 1989 it is determined that: “If a condition of a mining tenement is inconsistent with a mandatory provision of the land access code, the mandatory provision prevails to the extent of the inconsistency.”
- 7.
Department of Employment (2010b).
- 8.
Section 10 of schedule 1 of the MRA 1989 states that: “A person must not enter private land in an exploration tenement’s area to carry out an advanced activity for the tenement (the relevant activity) unless each eligible claimant for the land is a party to an appropriate conduct and compensation agreement.”
According to section 5 of the Land Access Code the holder of the mining license “( … ) shall make early contact the landholder and arrange to visit and inspect the property well in advance of any planned commencement of authorized activities.”
- 9.
Department of Employment (2010a).
- 10.
Department of Employment (2010a).
- 11.
Land Access Review Panel (2012).
- 12.
Land Access Review Panel (2012), p. 20.
- 13.
Lock the Gate Alliance (2013).
- 14.
Details on the history and content of native title can be found at: Koppenol, President Land and Resource Tribunal (2011).
- 15.
Year Book Australia (1995).
- 16.
According to section 13 Native Title Act 1993 native titles claimants may: “( … ) apply to the Federal Court ( … ) for a determination of native title in relation to an area for which there is no approved determination of native title; ( … ).” According to section 107 Native Title Act 1993: “A National Native Title Tribunal is established”.
- 17.
According to section 32 Native Title Act 1993 in connection with section 237 Native Title Act 1993 an expedited procedure can be established, if: “( … ) the act is not likely to interfere directly with the carrying on of the community or social activities of the persons who are the holders ( … ) of native title in relation to the land or waters concerned; and the act is not likely to interfere with areas or sites of particular significance, in accordance with their traditions, to the persons who are the holders ( … ) of the native title in relation to the land or waters concerned; and the act is not likely to involve major disturbance to any land or waters concerned or create rights whose exercise is likely to involve major disturbance to any land or waters concerned.” According to section 32 Native Title Act 1993 the native title holder may object to such expedited procedure.
- 18.
A detailed outline of the process can be found at: Native Title Tribunal (2014).
- 19.
National Native Title Tribunal (2014).
- 20.
National Native Title Tribunal 2014).
- 21.
According to section 81 Native Title Act 1993 the Native Title Tribunal “( … ) has jurisdiction to hear and determine applications filed in the Federal Court that relate to native title and that jurisdiction is exclusive of the jurisdiction of all other courts except the High Court.”
- 22.
High Court of Australia (1992).
- 23.
High Court of Australia (1988).
- 24.
“Terra Nullius” in this context referred to the notion that Australia was not inhabited upon the arrival of the British Crown.
- 25.
Year Book Australia (1995).
- 26.
High Court of Australia (1996); High Court of Australia 1996, The Thayorre People v The State of Queensland & Ors.
- 27.
Year Book Australia (1995).
- 28.
Year Book Australia (1995).
- 29.
Details can be found at: ATNS, p. 101.
- 30.
ATNS (2014b), p. 101.
- 31.
ATNS (2014b), p. 102.
- 32.
ATNS (2014a).
- 33.
ATNS (2014a).
- 34.
According to section 5(4) of the MPRDA 2002 (4) “No person may prospect for or remove, mine, conduct technical co-operation operations, reconnaissance operations, explore for and produce any mineral or petroleum or commence with any work incidental thereto on any area without ( … ) notifying and consulting with the land owner or lawful occupier of the land in question.” For both a prospecting right (according to section 16(4)(b) of the MPRDA 2002) and a mining right (according to section 27(5)(b) of the MPRDA 2002) the investor will need “to notify in writing and consult with the land owner and lawful occupier and any other affected parties and submit the result of the said consultation within 30 days from the date of the notice [of acceptance of the application by the regional manager]”.
According to section 1 of the MPRDA 2002 the Regional Manager “( … ) means the officer designated by the Director-General [of the Department of Mineral Resources] ( … ) as regional manager for a specified region”.
- 35.
According to section 54(1) of the MRPDA 2002 “[the holder of the mineral license] is prevented from commencing or conducting any reconnaissance, prospecting or mining operations because the owner or the lawful occupier of the land in question refuses to allow such holder to enter the land; places unreasonable demands in return for access to the land; or cannot be found in order to apply for access [as a next step he is to notify the relevant Regional Manager]”.
- 36.
High Court of South Africa (1950).
- 37.
According to sections 41 and 42 of the Minerals Act 1991: “( … ) the Minister is satisfied, after considering any written representations submitted to him ( … ) and after such investigations as the Minister may deem necessary that such owner has suffered or is likely to suffer damage as a result of disturbance or subsidence of land caused by mining operations or operations in connection therewith; or any obstruction established on land by any person entitled to mine on such land and who mines or intends to mine thereon for any mineral; and that the owner has made all reasonable efforts to negotiate a settlement with the other person for the payment of compensation for the damage ( … )[the Minister shall] shall, ( … ) in writing direct such other person to negotiate a settlement with such owner for the payment of compensation for such damage.”
Section 42(3) of the Minerals Act 1991 outlines the procedure when an agreement in such a negotiation could not be reached as follows: “(If the parties … ) are unable to agree on the purchase price of such land, or if such person and such owner, after a direction from the Minister, are unable to negotiate a settlement for ( … ) such ( … ) compensation shall be determined by arbitration in accordance with the Arbitration Act 1965 (Act 42 of 1965), or by any competent court if such owner prefers the last-mentioned procedure.”
- 38.
Section 42(3) Minerals Act 1991 also excluded further future claims by stating that: “(If the owner) has notified the Minister or the Director-General (to force the owner of the mineral license into negotiation and was rejected), or if a settlement resulting from a direction ( … ) has been negotiated, or if compensation has been determined by arbitration or by any competent court ( … ) neither such owner nor any subsequent owner of such land, nor any person who has or may acquire any interest in such land, shall, while the person (the mineral license holder) or his successor in title is entitled to mine on such land for the mineral concerned, be entitled to apply to any court for ( … ) a settlement ( … ) or an arbitration award or order of court ( … ) and thereby preventing the last-mentioned person or his nominee from commencing or continuing on such land with the mining of such mineral or operations in connection therewith.”
- 39.
Bakheit (2005), p. 14.
- 40.
Woodhouse (2012), p. 848.
- 41.
Sapa (2012).
- 42.
Claassens (2013).
- 43.
Smith (2013).
- 44.
Cooperative Governance - Tribal Affairs (2014).
- 45.
ATNS (2014c).
- 46.
Capps (2013).
- 47.
South African History Online (2013).
- 48.
Sapa (2012).
- 49.
Moster and Fitzpatrick (2014).
- 50.
Olivier et al. (2013), p. 562.
- 51.
- 52.
Olivier et al. (2013), pp. 540–561.
- 53.
Articles 31–38 of the Mining Law 2001 references: “areas libres” [free areas] mining is allowed under the license regime outlined infra, in “reservas especiales” [special reserves], “zonas de seguridad nacional” [national security areas] and “zonas de mineria restringída” [areas of restricted mining] additional conditions must be met to be granted a mining licenses. In “zonas excluibles de la mineria” [areas excluded from mining] no mining will be allowed. In “zonas indigenas” special rules apply.
- 54.
Article 15 of the Mining Law 2001 states that the mining concession holder may: “( … ) a gravar los predios de terceros con las servidumbres necesarias para el ejercicio eficiente de dichas actividades.”
[(…) impose on third parties’ properties with necessary easements/servitudes for an efficient exercise of such activities.]
Those easements are further specified in articles 166–185 Mining Law 2001. Access to land is considered such an easement and is more specifically outlined in article 177 Mining Law 2001: “Habrá servidumbre de uso de terrenos. El interesado acordara con el dueño o poseedor el plazo y la correspondiente retribución. Se entenderá que esta servidumbre comprende el derecho a construir e instalar todas las obras y servicios propios de la exploración, construcción, montaje, extracción, acopio y beneficio de los minerales y del ejercicio de las demás servidumbres.”
[The use of lands will have its own easement. The interested party has to agree with the owner or holder on the time limit and the corresponding compensation. It will be understood that this easement includes the right to build and install all works and services corresponding to exploration, construction, erection, exploitation, ore storage, ore dressing and to the exercise of all other servitudes or easements.]
- 55.
According to article 184 of the Mining Law 2001 compensation should take into account the following guidelines: “En la fijación de las indemnizaciones y del monto de la caución a que esta obligado el minero par causa del establecimiento y uso de las servidumbres, serán de observancia par los interesados, los peritos y las autoridades, las siguientes reglas y criterios:
-
Para la estimación del valar comercial del terreno, se tendrán en cuenta sus condiciones objetivo as de ubicación, calidad y destino normal y ordinario y no las características y posibles rendimientos del proyecto minero, la potencial abundancia o riqueza del subsuelo del mismo o la capacidad económica a de los concesionarios;
-
La ocupación parcial del terreno solo dará lugar al reconocimiento y pago de la indemnización en cuantía proporcional al uso de la parte afectada, a menos que dicha ocupación afecte el valar y el uso de las zonas no afectadas; ( … )”
[The assignment of the compensations and the amount of the bail that the miner is committed to pay due to the establishment and use of servitudes and easements, should be observed by the interested parties, the appraisers and authorities, by following rules and principles:
-
For the estimation of commercial value of the land, its objective conditions of location, quality, normal and ordinary destination, will be taken in account and not the characteristics and possible output of the mining project, the potential abundance or wealth of the subsoil of such land, and the economic capacity of the concessionaires.
-
The partial occupation of the land will give way to an acknowledgement and payment of a compensation in a proportional amount to the use of the affected part, unless such occupation affects the value and use of areas not affected. (…)]
-
- 56.
Article 13 of the Mining Law 2001 establishes the ground for expropriation of land for the purpose of mining activities by stating: “( … ), declarase de utilidad pública e interés social la industria minera en todas sus ramas y fases. Por tanto podrán decretarse a su favor, a solicitud de parte interesada y por los procedimientos establecidos en este Codigo, las expropiaciones de la propiedad de los bienes inmuebles y demás derechos constituidos sobre los mismos, que sean necesarios para su ejercicio y eficiente desarrollo.”
[(…), the mining industry in all its branches and stages, hereby is declared of public service and social interest. Therefore, at request of the interested party and by the established procedures in this Code, expropriations of property of assets and all other rights constituted on them, that might be necessary for exercise and efficient development, can be decreed in its favour.]
- 57.
Cárdenas et al. (2012), p. 179.
- 58.
According to article 122 of the Mining Law 2001: “La autoridad minera sefialara y delimitara, con base en estudios técnicos y sociales, dentro de los territorios indígenas, zonas mineras indígenas en las cuales la exploración y explotación del suelo y subsuelo mineros deberán ajustarse a las disposiciones especiales del presente Capitulo sobre protección y participación de las comunidades y grupos indígenas asentados en dichos territorios. Toda propuesta de particulares para explorar y explotar minerales dentro de las zonas mineras indígenas será resuelta con la participación de los representantes de las respectivas comunidades indígenas y sin perjuicio del derecho de prelación que se consagra en el artículo 124 de este Código.”
[Based on technical and social studies the mining authority will indicate and delimit within the Indian Territory, Indian mining zones in which exploration and exploitation of the mining soil and subsoil should be adjusted to special dispositions of the present article on protection and participation of Indian communities and groups established in such territories.
Every proposal of private persons to explore and exploit minerals within Indian mining zones will be solved with the participation of representatives of the respective Indian communities and subject to their right of privilege consecrated in Article 124 of this Code.]
- 59.
According to article 126 of the Mining Law 2001: “Las comunidades grupos indígenas que gocen de una concesión dentro de la zona minera indígena, podrán contratar la totalidad o parte de las obras y trabajos correspondientes, con personas ajenas a ellos.”
[The communities or Indian groups that possess a concession within the Indian mining zone, can make contracts regarding all or part of the corresponding works and installations, with non-Indian people.]
- 60.
Article 121 Mining Law 2001 states: “Todo explorador o explotador de minas esta en la obligación de realizar sus actividades de manera que no vayan en desmedro de los valores culturales, sociales y económicos de las comunidades y grupos étnicos ocupantes real y tradicionalmente del área objeto de las concesiones o de títulos de propiedad privada del subsuelo.”
[Every mining explorer or exploiter is in the obligation to carry out its activities in a manner that does not affect cultural, social and economic values of communities or ethnic groups, real and traditionally occupants of the area object of concessions or of titles of soil’s private ownership.]
- 61.
According to article 37 of the Mining Law 2001: “Con excepción de las facultades de las autoridades nacionales y regionales que se sefialan en los artículos 34 y 35 anteriores, ninguna autoridad regional, seccional o local podrá establecer zonas del territorio que queden permanente o transitoriamente excluidas de la minería. Esta prohibicion comprende los planes de ordenamiento territorial ( … ).”
[With the exception of faculties of the national or regional authorities mentioned in the previous Articles 34 and 35, no regional, sectional or local authority can establish areas that remain permanently or transitorily excluded from mining activity. This prohibition covers plans of territorial ordinance (…).] As articles 34 Mining Law 2001 and 35 Mining Law 2001 from a municipal point of view only refer to the protection of land within its city limits it can be established that in Colombia, the national Mining Law prevails over municipal planning law.
- 62.
Details on the Local planning laws can be found at: Vitta (2013).
- 63.
Salamanca (2013), p. 51.
- 64.
Summers and Useche (2013).
References
ATNS. About us (2014a) Available online at: http://www.atns.net.au/page.asp?PageID=2. Last checked on 15 February 2014
ATNS. Argyle Diamond Mine Participation Agreement: Management Plan Agreement (2014b) Available online at: http://www.atns.net.au/agreement.asp?EntityID=2592. Last checked on 15 February 2014
ATNS. Royal Bafokeng Nation and Impala Platinum Joint Venture Agreement (2014c) Available online at: http://www.atns.net.au/agreement.asp?EntityID=4124. Last checked on 15 February 2014
Bakheit T (2005) Mining & land access issues in African mineral laws. The Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy, Annual Review (9)
Capps G (2013) Capps Rustenburg minerals. Available online at: http://www.landdivided2013.org.za/sites/default/files/Capps%20Rustenburg%20minerals.pdf, updated on 5/23/2013. Last checked on 15 February 2014
Cárdenas BP, Bejarano D, Guerra D (2012) Colombia. In: Sutcliffe S (ed) Mining law: jurisdictional comparisons. Thomson Reuters, London pp 175–190
Claassens (2013) Traditional leadership. Available online at: http://www.landdivided2013.org.za/sites/default/files/Claassens%20traditional%20leadership.pdf, updated on 5/23/2013. Last checked on 28 September 2013
Constitutional Court (2012) Maccsand (Pty) Ltd v City of Cape Town and Others, Judgment of 12 April 2012. References: (CCT103/11) (CC) [2012] ZACC 7; 2012 (4) SA 181 (CC); 2012 (7) BCLR 690 (CC). Available online at: http://www.saflii.org/za/cases/ZACC/2012/7.html. Last checked on 15 February 2014
Cooperative Governance - Tribal Affairs. About Us (2014) Available online at: http://www.cogta.gov.za/cgta/index.php/component/content/article/172-about-us/46-about-us.html. Last checked on 15 February 2014
Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (2010a) Guide to Queensland’s new land access laws. Edited by Economic Development and Innovation Department of Employment. Available online at: http://mines.industry.qld.gov.au/assets/land-tenure-pdf/6184_landaccesslaws_guide_print.pdf. Last checked on 15 February 2014
Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (2010b) Land Access Code. Edited by Economic Development and Innovation Department of Employment. Available online at: http://mines.industry.qld.gov.au/assets/land-tenure-pdf/land_access_code_nov2010.pdf. Last checked on 15 February 2014
Department of Natural Resources and Mines. Crown-land (2014) Available online at: http://www.nrm.qld.gov.au/museum/surveying_history/crown-land.html. Last checked on 15 February 2014
High Court (1950) Hudson v. Mann and another, References: 950(4) SA 485(T) at 488 E-F, key passage cross referenced in: Trojan Exploration Company Proprietary Ltd. and Another v Rustenburg Platinum Mines Ltd. and Others, Judgment of 31 May 1996 in para 8. References: (609/94) [1996] ZASCA 74; 1996 (4) SA 499 (SCA); [1996] 4 All SA 121 (A). Available online at: http://www.saflii.org/za/cases/ZASCA/1996/74.html. Last checked on 15 February 2014
High Court of Australia (1996) Wik Peoples v Queensland (“Pastoral Leases case”), Judgment of 23 December 1996. References: [1996] HCA 40; (1996) 187 CLR 1; (1996) 141 ALR 129; (1996) 71 ALJR 173. Available online at: http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/sinodisp/au/cases/cth/HCA/1996/40.html?query=Wik. Last checked on 15 February 2014
High Court of Australia (1988) Mabo v Queensland (No 1), Judgment of 8 December 1988. References: [1988] HCA 69; (1989) 166 CLR 186. Available online at: http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/high_ct/166clr186.html. Last checked on 15 February 2014
High Court of Australia (1992) Mabo v Queensland (No 2) (“Mabo case”), Judgment of 3 June 1992. References: [1992] HCA 23; (1992) 175 CLR 1. Available online at: http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/HCA/1992/23.html. Last checked on 15 February 2014
Koppenol GJ, President Land and Resource Tribunal (2011) Evolution of native title. Available online at: http://www.landcourt.qld.gov.au/documents/speeches/Evolution%20of%20Native%20Title.pdf, updated on 1/17/2011. Last checked on 15 February 2014
Land Access Review Panel (2012) Land Access Review Panel report. Available online at: http://mines.industry.qld.gov.au/assets/native-title-pdf/Land_Access_Review_Panel_report.pdf, updated on 12/7/2012. Last checked on 15 February 2014
Lock the Gate Alliance (2013) Lock the gate alliance. Available online at: http://www.lockthegate.org.au/, updated on 1/23/2013. Last checked on 15 February 2014
Moster H, Fitzpatrick P (2014) Law Against Law: Indigenous Rights and the Richtersveld Cases. Available online at: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/law/elj/lgd/2004_2/mostertfitzpatrick/. Last checked on 15 February 2014
National Native Title Tribunal (2014) About the tribunal. Available online at: http://www.nntt.gov.au/au/Pages/Tribunaloverview.aspx. Last checked on 15 February 2014
Native Title Tribunal (2014) Steps to an indigenous land use agreement. Available online at: http://www.nntt.gov.au/news-and-communications/publications/documents/booklets/ilua_steps.pdf. Last checked on 15 February 2014
Olivier NJJ, Williams C, Badenhorst PJ (2013) Maccsand (Pty) Ltd v City of Cape Town 2012 (4) SA 181 (CC). Potch Elekt regs 15(5). doi:10.4314/pelj.v15i5.15
Queensland Government (2013) Queensland land title practice manual. Available online at: http://www.nrm.qld.gov.au/property/titles/pdf/ltpm.pdf, updated on 7/11/2013. Last checked on 15 February 2014
Salamanca LJG (2013) Conflictividad minera y ordenamiento ambiental y territorial en Colombia. Estudio de la Contraloría General de la República.: Magazín Massiris: Geografía, ordenamiento territorial y desarrollo territorial sostenible. Available online at: http://www.massiris.com/2013/05/conflictividad-minera-y-ordenamiento.html. Last checked on 15 February 2014
Sapa (2012) Transfer tribal land, 7/25/2012. Available online at: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Transfer-tribal-land-Agri-SA-20120725. Last checked on 15 February 2014
Smith H (2013) Smith Mining and land law. Available online at: http://www.landdivided2013.org.za/sites/default/files/Smith%20Mining%20and%20land%20law.pdf, updated on 23 May 2013. Checked on 28 September 2013
South African History Online (2013) The glitter of gold. Available online at: http://www.sahistory.org.za/archive/glitter-gold, updated on 9/28/2013. Last checked on 15 February 2014
Summers R, Useche C (2013) Post-conflict planning in Colombia. In Planning, 5/22/2013. Available online at: http://www.planningresource.co.uk/news/1183559/Post-conflict-planning-Colombia/. Last checked on 15 February 2014
Vitta JFR (2013) Land planning in Colombia. UNHABITAT. Available online at: http://www.urbangateway.org/sites/default/ugfiles/land_readjustment_experience_in_colombia.pdf, updated on 2/26/2013. Last checked on 15 February 2014
Woodhouse P (2012) Reforming land and water rights in South Africa. Dev Change 43(4):847–868. doi:10.1111/j.1467-7660.2012.01784.x
Year Book Australia (1995) The Mabo case and the native title act. Edited by The Australian Bureau of Statistics. Available online at: http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/Previousproducts/1301.0Feature%20Article21995. Last checked on 15 February 2014
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Roeder, R.W. (2016). May I Enter? The Question of Land Access. In: Foreign Mining Investment Law. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31217-0_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31217-0_6
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-31216-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-31217-0
eBook Packages: Law and CriminologyLaw and Criminology (R0)