When is an extraction license issued directly?

With the consent of the Government: to a water-supply license holder for drinking-water purposes, or for tourism and recreation purposes involving therapeutic mud and mineral waters. On private land, underground fresh water may also be extracted for entrepreneurial purposes, up to 5 000 cubic meters per year.

What happens if the environmental decision is refused?

If the activity is refused or the established conditions materially change the license conditions, the amount recorded at the auction is returned to the license holder upon request.

How often are inspections carried out?

In a calendar year, unless the law provides otherwise, control is carried out only once; for specific activities defined by the law, three times a year. Reporting is annual, from 1 April to 1 May.

Can a license be divided and transferred?

Yes, the holder divides the license into parts and transfers the right of use by lease or into ownership; the authority enters the change into the license registry within 10 calendar days and issues a certificate.

Mining Permits in Georgia

The legal regime of mining permits

Mining activity permits in Georgia are regulated by special sectoral legislation. A mineral extraction license is in general issued through the ordinary auction-based track, yet the law provides an exception — direct issuance, which serves environmental and water-supply purposes. An applicant for a mining permit therefore needs to know both routes: the auction procedure and its starting price on the one hand, and the conditions of direct issuance together with the subsequent reporting obligations on the other, because holding a license does not mean exemption from control.