REPUBLIC OF NIGER
MINISTRY OF MINES AND ENERGY
----------------------------
MINING AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
THE REPUBLIC OF NIGER
AND
NORTHWESTERN MINERAL VENTURES INC.
FOR THE IRHAZER CONCESSION
MINING AGREEMENT
BETWEEN: THE REPUBLIC OF NIGER acting through his Minister of Mines duly
authorized and empowered under the Mining Law; (Hereinafter called
the "State")
ON ONE HAND;
AND NORTHWESTERN MINERAL VENTURES INC., represented by Xx. Xxxxx Xxxxx,
duly authorized and empowered by a resolution of its Board Directors
or any other document acceptable under the legislation of
Northwestern Mineral Ventures Inc. confirming of the aforementioned
authorization and whose original copy is annexed to the Agreement as
Appendix I; (Hereinafter called the "Company"
ON THE OTHER HAND;
In the matter of the Constitution,
Considering the Decree N(degree)93-016 of March 02, 1993 relative to the
prospecting, exploration, exploitation, ownership, possession, circulation,
trade and the transformation of mineral or fossil substances on the territory of
the Republic of Niger and the texts enacted for its application,
Considering the importance which can play the mining sector in the economic
development of the Republic of Niger,
Considering the desire for the Government to diversify exploration and mining
production in Niger,
Considering the importance of investments necessary for the exploration of the
mining substances,
Considering the technical and financial capacities of the Company on one hand
and the desire to begin Mining Operations within the limits of the territory of
the Republic of Niger on the other hand,
IT WAS COVENATED AND AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
TITLE 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS
FIRST ARTICLE - DEFINITIONS
For the purposes of the present Agreement, the terms enumerated below
will have the following definitions:
"AGREEMENT"
means present Agreement including any amendments or modifications to it
and all its appendices.
"DATE OF FIRST COMMERCIAL EXPEDITION"
means the date in which was realized the first sale or delivery of
Products, either in Niger or for the export, with the exception of
operations made on a test basis.
"CURRENCY"
means any freely convertible currency other than the CFA franc, the
official currency of the State.
"STATE"
means the Government of the Republic of Niger, its ministries,
departments, directions, bodies and any authorities or national,
regional, urban or local communities.
"FEASIBILITY STUDY"
means a report stating the feasibility of the exploitation of a Ore
Deposit within the Perimeter and exposing the program for its
exploitation, which should include, as a guide but without limitation:
a) an assessment of the size and quality of the mining reserves;
b) a determination of the suitability of the Ore to a metallurgical
processing;
c) a planning for the mining operations;
d) presentation of a program for the construction of the Mine, setting out
the details of the works, equipments, installations and supplies
required for the commercial production of a ore body or potential
Deposit as well as estimated costs relating to it, accompanied with
forecasts of annual expenditures;
e) a report on the socioeconomic impact of the Project;
f) a study of the Project's impact on the environment (soil, water, air,
fauna, flora and human settlements) with appropriate recommendations;
g) set up of a plan related to the marketing of the Products, covering the
anticipated points of sale, customers, conditions of sale and prices;
h) complete financial projections for the period of exploitation;
i) conclusions and recommendations of the economic feasibility and the
calendar for bringing the commercial production on line, taking into
account the above listed points, from (a) to (h); and
j) any other information that the Party performing the Feasibility Study
would consider useful to convince any banking or financial institutions
to lend the funds necessary for the exploitation of the Deposit.
"DEPOSIT"
means any Mineral Deposit recognized by a Feasibility Study as being
commercially viable.
"MARGINAL DEPOSIT"
means a Deposit of size and quality known, by a Feasibility Study but
deemed economically unprofitable by the Parties.
"LIBOR "
means inter bank interest rate offered in London for a period of three
(3) months and quoted by any international bank.
"MINING LAW"
means the Decree 93-016 of March 02, 1993;
"MINES"
means:
a) any open pits, shafts, tunnels, audits, underground or not,
realized or built after the completion of a Feasibility Study and
from which the Ore was or will be removed or extracted by any
process, in quantity greater than that required for sampling,
analysis or evaluation;
b) furniture and other installations for the treatment, processing,
storage and removal of the Ore and the waste, including residues;
c) tools, equipments, machinery, buildings, installations and
improvements for the exploitation, transformation, handling and
transport of the Ore, waste and materials;
d) dwellings, offices, roads, landing strips, power lines, power
generating plants, installations of evaporation and drying,
piping, railroads and other infrastructures for the above
purposes.
"ORE"
means everything extracted from the Deposit containing the Mineral
Substances.
"MINISTRY"
means the Ministry responsible for the Mines.
"MINISTER"
means the Minister responsible for the Mines.
"MINING OPERATIONS"
means all the operations related to the various stages of the mining
activity and including: prospecting, exploration, exploitation, primary
processing, physical and chemical concentration of ore and transport of
product. The following secondary activities carried out inside the
industrial park of the Company and its dependences are included in the
mining operations:
- the maintenance of machinery and installations,
- production, transport, supply of electricity and water,
- management of tributaries,
- construction and maintenance of access roads,
- management of the environment.
"PARTICIPATION OF THE STATE"
means the participation of the State in the authorized capital of the
Operating Company as detailed at the article 15 of the Agreement.
"PARTY"
means the State or the Company.
"PARTIES"
means the State and the Company.
"PERIMETER"
means the perimeter defined in the prospecting permit and\or the
perimeter defined in the exploitation permit, as the case may be; it can
be modified in accordance with the provisions of the Mining Law.
"PRODUCTS"
means any Ore or any Mineral Substances extracted from the Perimeter for
commercial purposes under this Agreement.
"PROJECT"
means the activities related to the Perimeter and undertaken under this
Agreement.
"COMPANY"
means the moral person to whom the prospecting permit has been
delivered.
"AFFILIATED COMPANY"
means every moral person who controls directly or indirectly a Party or
is controlled by a physical or moral person who controls a Party. By
control shall be understood as the direct or indirect power to influence
management and decision making, or to do it by the exercise of voting
rights.
"OPERATING COMPANY"
means the company established between the Parties in accordance to the
article 14 of the Agreement for the exploitation and marketing of the
Mineral Substances include in the exploitation permit.
"MINERAL SUBSTANCE"
means all concentration of minerals and\or metals.
"THIRD PARTY"
means every physical or moral person other than contracting Parties and
Affiliated Companies.
"$ US"
means dollar of United States of America.
"DOLLARS US"
means dollars of United States of America.
ARTICLE 2 - OBJECT OF THE AGREEMENT
The object of this Agreement is specifically to set forth the legal,
financial, fiscal, economical, administrative, customs and social
general conditions which the Company will proceed with exploration works
inside the Perimeter defined in the Prospecting Permit and also for the
Operating Company for the exploitation within the perimeter defined in
the exploitation permit.
ARTICLE 3 - PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Project consists of:
a) performance by the Company, at its expenses and under its
controls and management, of exploration works;
b) performance, to the extent that the Company deems appropriate, of
a Feasibility Study and, should the Feasibility Study proves
positive, mining of the ore body or ore bodies in accordance with
the provisions of articles 14 to 16 hereunder.
ARTICLE 4 - COOPERATION
The State declares its intention to facilitate, according to the
regulations in force, all the exploration works which the Company will
make by all the means which it deems appropriate. The same will apply
for the mining, marketing, processing and refining of the Products by
the Operating Company.
ARTICLE 5 - APPLICABLE LAW
The law applicable to this Agreement is the law of the Republic of
Niger. It is expressly agreed that throughout the duration of its
validity period, the Agreement shall constitute the law between the
Parties, subject to general provisions of public order.
ARTICLE 6 - EFFECTIVE DATE
The Agreement shall enter into effect from the date of its approval by
decree during a Council of Ministers.
ARTICLE 7 - TERM
The Agreement is valid from the effective date for a term of thirty (30)
years. In the event that the useful life expectancy of the Ore Deposit
exceeds the term of the Agreement, the Parties should negotiate a new
Agreement in accordance with the laws and regulations then in effect.
The Agreement shall terminate, before the expiration of the term, in the
following cases:
a) By written consent of the Parties;
b) In the event of total renunciation by the Company or by the Operating
Company of its mining titles, of expiration or withdrawal of the latter
in accordance with the provisions of articles 59 and 60 of the Mining
Law;
c) In the event of bankruptcy, receivership, disposal of goods or
similar collective procedures on the part of the Company or the
Operating Company.
ARTICLE 8 - SETTLEMENTS OF DISPUTES
8.1 The Parties agree to attempt to settle any dispute or litigation arising
from the interpretation or application of the Agreement by mutual
consent in Niger.
8.2 The Parties agree to submit any dispute or litigation relating
exclusively to technical matters that cannot be settled by mutual
consent, to an expert of a nationality other than those of the Parties,
known for his/her technical expertise, and selected jointly by the
Parties. The decision of this expert shall be handed down within sixty
(60) days following his/her appointment and shall be final and without
appeal. In the event of disagreement between the Parties on the
designation of the expert, the Parties shall resort to arbitration in
accordance with
the provisions of the article 8.3 hereunder. The cost of the technical
arbitration shall be shared equally between the Parties.
8.3 Subject to the provisions of articles 8.1 and 8.2 above, any dispute or
litigation relating to the Agreement shall be settled by arbitration in
accordance with the title IV of the treaty concerning the harmonization
of the corporate law in Africa (OHADA treaty).
8.4 On the assumption that an arbitration subjected to the regulation of the
Common Court of justice and arbitration would be impossible for reasons
outside the will of Parties, any disagreement relating to the Agreement
that should initially have been subjected to the regulation of this
Court, will be solved definitively in accordance with the arbitration
regulation of the International Chamber of Commerce ( ICC) of Paris.
8.5 However, the Niger government undertakes to do anything which could
hinder the procedures included in the Agreement for the regulation of
disagreement.
8.6 The language of the arbitration will be the French language.
TITLE II - EXPLORATION WORK
ARTICLE 9 - ISSUE OF EXPLORATION PERMITS TO THE COMPANY
9.1 Within (30) days following the effective date of the Agreement and
upon presentation of an application in accordance with the requirements
of the Mining Law, the State shall issue an exploration permit to the
Company for the Perimeter defined in appendix IV.
9.2 The exploration permit will grant the Company all the rights given under
the Mining Law for exploration permits, while binding it to the
associated obligations.
9.3 In any event, as soon as the exploration permit is issued, the Company
is required to open an office in Niger to co-ordinate the exploration
work covered by the Agreement. The Company's office manager in Niger
shall be given sufficient power to decide on any issue relating to the
exploration work which may be considered part of the day-today operation
of such work.
ARTICLE 10 - WORK SCHEDULE AND EXPLORATION EXPENSES
10.1 During the first period of validity of its exploration permit, the
Company undertakes to:
- to carry out within the Perimeter, the exploration work program
provided at appendix VI of the Agreement,
- to spend a minimum amount equal to two millions two hundred
thousand (2 200 000) dollars US for the realization of these works
as follows:
First Year: US $ 200 000
Second Year: US $ 600 000
Third Year: US $ 1 400 000
10.2 For each subsequent period of validity, the Company shall submit to the
Minister its proposals for exploration work and expenditures at each
renewal period of its exploration permit.
10.3 Assays of samples
The Company is bound to notify the appropriate departments of the
Ministry of its desire to analyze samples collected during exploration
work. Such notification shall include: the number and weight of samples
and the references of the assaying laboratory. A witness sample shall be
kept in Niger by the Company. Assays on samples collected during
exploration shall be performed in Niger to the extent that the services
are available at competitive prices, quality quantity and acceptable
delivery time. Without these conditions, the analyses can be made
abroad. The export of any sample is subject to a prior authorization by
the relevant departments of the Ministry. All the assay results with its
positioning, which have to include multi elements, shall be communicated
to the Ministry on digital support.
10.4 The Company shall use local services for drilling, geophysics,
geochemistry, geology, assays, etc. as far as these services are
available at competitive prices, quality, and acceptable delivery time.
10.5 Exploration expenditures shall consist:
-salaries, wages and miscellaneous expenses of the personnel engaged in
exploration work relating to the Perimeter on the basis of hours
actually worked;
-depreciation of equipment belonging to the Company used in exploration
work relating to the Perimeter. This depreciation shall be equal to the
difference between the initial value of such equipment and the market
value or surrender value thereof after its use for the work within the
Perimeter. The amount of the aforesaid depreciation shall be allocated
in a proportionate manner when it is used on several projects;
-expenses incurred in Niger in the execution of research works: services
and consumables;
-expenses incurred abroad for the performance of exploration work: goods
and services;
-expenses incurred abroad at flat rate of ten percent (10 %) on
overheads incurred in Niger;
-duties, income tax, royalties, taxes, levies and contribution paid in
Niger relating to exploration work within the Perimeter.
For the purpose of auditing these expenditures, accounting shall be
organized in such a way to distinguish exploration expenses from
administration expenses.
SECTION 11 - INFORMATION GATHERED DURING THE PERFORMANCE OF EXPLORATION WORK
11.1 Throughout the period of validity of the exploration permit or of any
subsequent extension thereof, the Company shall submit to the State all
reports, maps, drilling logs, airborne survey data and all raw data
which it has acquired during the exploration period.
11.2 The reports and data mentioned in section 11.1 above shall become the
property of the State upon their receipt. However, they can be divulged
by the State to Third Parties only in accordance with the Mining Law.
SECTION 12 - WAIVER OF THE EXPLORATION PERMIT
12.1 The Company may, in accordance with the Mining Law, waive its
exploration permit in whole or in part for justifiable technical reasons
or in the event of force majeure. One such justifiable technical reason,
for example, would be if the results of exploration after at least one
year of work as described in appendix VI, failed to yield clear
encouragement for the continuation of exploration work within the
Perimeter.
12.2 In the event of a total renunciation of the exploration permit for
reasons other than those outlined in the preceding paragraph, the State
shall recover all its rights. The amount of all exemptions granted to
the Company in accordance with the provisions of the Mining Law shall be
updated on the date of receipt of the application for renunciation. The
Company shall reimburse the State the updated amount of these exemptions
within sixty (60) days of the date of receipt of the application for
renunciation.
SECTION 13 - FEASIBITY STUDY AND MARGINAL DEPOSITS
13.1 The Company shall carry out a Feasibility Study in accordance with
Section 3 above. If, at the conclusion of the exploration work within he
Perimeter, the Company has discovered only a Marginal Deposit, the State
may extend the validity of its permit to the perimeter of the said
deposit as outlined by the Feasibility Study, in accordance with section
29 of the Mining Law and at the request of the Company.
13.2 However if, the State considers that the conditions for mining the
deposit are all met, or if it does not agree that the deposit is not
marginal, it may ask the Company to proceed to the mining phase in
accordance with the provisions of
articles 14 to 16 hereunder. Without a response from the Company within
a period of ninety (90) days following the date of receipt of the
request from the State, or in the event of a negative response, the
State shall have the right to mine the deposit alone or in association
with Third Parties. The exploration expenses incurred by the Company
shall be reimbursed during the mining phase in accordance with
provisions to be agreed upon mutually between the Parties.
PART III MINING OPERATIONS
ARTICLE 14 - OPERATING COMPANY
14.1 In the event of the discovery of a Deposit within the Perimeter of the
exploration Permit, an Operating Company shall be duly incorporated in
accordance with legislation governing the status of Companies in the
Republic of Niger. The Operating Company shall have as objectives, the
extraction, processing and marketing of the Mineral Substances for which
its permit is granted.
14.2 The State shall, in accordance with the Mining Law, grant the Operating
Company an exploitation permit within the perimeter of the exploration
permit.
14.3 The Parties shall decide upon the corporate name of the Operating
Company upon its incorporation. The head office of the Operating Company
shall be situated in the Republic of Niger, at a location selected by
mutual decision of the Parties.
ARTICLE 15 - PARTICIPATION OF THE STATE
15.1 It is agreed that, in accordance with the Mining Law, ten per cent (10%)
of the capital of the Operating Company shall be allotted to the State,
without any financial contribution on its part, as initial free
interest.
15.2 In the event of an increase in the capital of the Operating Company,
decided upon by an Extraordinary General Meeting of the shareholders,
ten per cent (10%) of the new shares shall be allotted to the State in
order to maintain the percentage of its initial interest mentioned in
article 15.1 above. The State shall have no obligation by virtue of its
interest mentioned in article 15.1 above to contribute to the cost of
exploration, Feasibility Studies or the development costs of the
Deposit.
15.3 The State or any other governmental body which it will designate shall
subscribe in numerary a maximum of twenty per cent (20%) of the
authorised capital of the Operating Company at the time of its
incorporation. Failure by the State to subscribe to the authorised
capital of the Operating Company at the time of its incorporation shall
cause the State to lose its right of subscription. The Company will then
hold all the shares of the Operating Company Company, less the ten per
cent (10%) interest allotted to the State by virtue of article 15.1
above.
15.4 The shares issued to the State by the Operating Company shall be of the
same type as those issued to its principal shareholder and, subject to
the provisions of articles 15.1 and 15.2 above, shall carry the same
rights and obligations
15.5 The State's interest in the authorised capital of the Operating Company
by virtue of section 15.3 above obliges it, as of the date of
incorporation of the Operating Company, to contribute in numerary
proportionally to its interest, to all the financial commitments of
whatsoever nature, contribution of capital, advances by shareholders,
bank loans and other borrowings costs, disbursements and losses.
15.6 The State's interest entitles it to a corresponding percentage of all
distributed income.
15.7 It is understood that the Parties shall assist one another in seeking
financing for the mining project and shall, in accordance with
international practice, provide all the information requested by
financial institutions. However, the present clause shall not have the
effect of imposing upon a Party the obligation to guarantee loans other
than its own. The Parties agree that the part or all of the financing
for the development and mining of any Deposit(s) may be negotiated and
arranged by the Company with a bank or other financial institution on
the best, most reasonable and most competitive conditions available.
ARTICLE 16 - TREATMENT OF EXPLORATION EXPENSES
16.1 Exploration expenses incurred by each Party for exploration work within
the perimeter of the permit shall be updated as of the date of issue of
the mining permit. The terms of the update shall be mutually agreed upon
by the Parties.
16.2 The expenses incurred by the Company for the exploration work within the
perimeter of the permit shall be calculated in accordance with the
provisions of article 10.4 of this Agreement.
16.3 Any expenses have been claimed by the State.
16.4 Exploration expenses incurred by the State and by the Company shall be
entered as initial capital costs. The method of reimbursement of such
expenditures shall be mutually agreed upon between the parties.
ARTICLE 17 - CESSATION OF THE MINING OPERATION
If the Operating Company contemplates a cessation of its operations for
any reason whatsoever, it shall notify the Minister in writing with
supporting documentation. At that time, the Parties shall meet to decide
upon the appropriateness of such a measure, without prior interruption
of the mining operations.
The Operating Company may interrupt its activities if the Minister does
not authorise the cessation within a period of thirty (30) days
following the date of receipt of the written notice from the Operating
Company. This time period may be reduced to five (5) days in the event
of a temporary shut-down. It remains understood that in the event of
case of force majeure as outlined in article 32 hereunder, a temporary
shut-down may immediately follow upon the written notice to the
Minister. The authorisation shall not be unreasonably withheld.
PART IV - RIGHTS, OBLIGATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION
ARTICLE 18 - PURCHASING AND PROCUREMENT
The Company, the Operating Company and their sub-contractors shall, as
far as possible, use services and raw materials from local sources, as
well as products manufactured in Niger, to the extent that such
services, raw materials and products are available on competitive
prices, quality, guarantees and delivery time.
SECTION 19 - EMPLOYEMENT OF NATIONAL PERSONNEL
19.1 Throughout the term of the Agreement, the Company and the Operating
Company undertake to:
a) give hiring priority to native personnel of Niger so as to allow them
access to all jobs of which they are capable, at whatever levels;
b) in consultation with the appropriate State authorities, set up a
training and promotion programme for native personnel of Niger;
c) gradually replace qualified expatriate personnel by nationals who
have acquired the same qualifications on the job;
d) provide accommodation for workers on the site in conditions of health
and hygiene which would comply with the current or future regulations;
e) comply with health legislation and regulations as provided for by
current or future texts;
f) comply with current or future labour legislation and regulations
texts, particularly with respect to general working conditions,
remuneration plan, prevention and remedy of labour-related accidents and
occupational diseases, as well as to professional associations and
unions;
g) contribute to the training of personnel in the Department of Mines
and Geology, by making available to the Ministry the sum of twenty
thousand Dollars (US $ 20 000) each year. The first payment is to be
made thirty (30) days following the effective date of the Agreement and
is to be repeated each year on its anniversary date throughout the term
of validity of the exploration permit. This contribution shall be
accounted under the heading of the exploration expenditures mentioned in
article 10 above.
19.2 From the date of issue of the mining permit, the Operating Company
undertakes to contribute to:
a) the installation, expansion or improvement of a medical and
educational infrastructure at a reasonable distance from the Deposit, to
meet the normal needs of the workers and their families;
b) the organisation of local recreational facilities for its personnel.
19.3 The State undertakes to provide the Company, the Operating Company and
their sub-contractors with the necessary authorisations allowing workers
to work overtime and to work at night or during non-working days or
holidays, in accordance with current legislation.
19.4 The State undertakes not to enact any measure in the matter of labour or
social legislation which may be considered discriminatory against the
Company, the Operating Company and their sub-contractors or their
personnel, relative to those measures applying to companies carrying on
similar activities in Niger.
SECTION 20 - EMPLOYMENT OF EXPATRIATE PERSONNEL
20.1 The Company, the Operating Company and their sub-contractors can hire
expatriate, whether national or foreign, may not be available for the
efficient performance of their Mining Operations, personnel. The State
will facilitate the obtaining of the permits and authorisations required
for the expatriate personnel, including entry and exit visas, work
permits and residence permits.
20.2 The State undertakes, throughout the term of the Agreement, not to
engage or to promulgate, with respect to the Company, the Operating
Company and their sub-contractors, any measure implying a restriction to
the conditions in which the current or future legislation that allows:
a) the entry, stay and exit of expatriate personnel of the Company, the
Operating Company or their sub-contractors, together with their
families, as well as the import and export of their personal effects;
b) subject to the provisions of article 20.1 above, the hiring and
dismissal by the Company, the Operating Company and their
sub-contractors of the persons of their choice, whatever their
nationality or the nature of their professional qualifications;
20.3 The State, however, reserves the right to forbid the entry and stay of
citizens of countries hostile to the Republic of Niger and of
individuals whose presence would tend to compromise security, law and
order.
SECTION 21 - GENERAL WARRANTIES GRANTED BY THE STATE
21.1 The state warrants to the Company and to the Operating Company the
stability of the general, legal, administrative, customs and excise,
economic, financial and fiscal conditions provided by the Agreement.
Throughout the term of the Agreement, the rates as specified in the
Agreement, the tax base and the rules for the collection of duties and
taxes shall remain as on the effective, unless meanwhile the rates were
lowered, in which case the Company and the Operating Company shall, upon
their request, benefit from the new rates.
21.2 The State warrants to the Company, to the Operating Company and to their
sub-contractors and to their personnel that they will never in any way
become the object of any unfavourable legal or administrative
discrimination in fact or in law.
21.3 The State warrants to the Company, the Operating Company and their
sub-contractors that all the authorisations and administrative measures
necessary to facilitate the performance of the exploration and mining
work will be respectively granted and taken as expeditiously as possible
subject to legislative and regulatory provisions in force.
21.4 The State warrants to the Operating Company and its sub-contractors that
all administrative authorisations will be issued as expeditiously as
possible to facilitate the marketing of the Products. It remains
understood that the Operating Company may negotiate the marketing of the
Products with a specialist company. It shall, however, remain the sole
party responsible for this operation toward the State and shall submit
to the State any prospective sales contract.
SECTION 22 - FISCAL AND CUSTOMS PROVISIONS
22.1 EXPLORATION PHASE
With the exception of the following duties, royalties and the taxes, the
Company is exempt from all other royalties, duties and taxes:
(A) FIXED DUTIES:
- award or renewal 300 000 F CFA
- transfer 000 000 X XXX
- xxxxxxxxx 000 000 X XXX
(X) ANNUAL SURFACE RIGHTS:
- first term of validity 100 F CFA/km(2)
- second term of validity 200 F CFA/km(2)
- third term of validity 400 F CFA/km(2)
- extension 500 F CFA/km(2)
(C) VALUE ADDED TAX (VAT):
The Value Added Tax (VAT) at the rate of nineteen per cent
(19%) only on the provision of services associated with
administrative operations.
(D) INCOME TAX PAYABLE BY EMPLOYEES:
Income tax payable by employees with the exception of the
Company's expatriate employees, whose activities are
exclusively linked to the Agreement. Sub-contractors shall
benefit from the same tax advantage for their expatriate
employees in the same circumstances.
(E) DIFFERENTIAL TAX ON MOTOR VEHICLE (VIGNETTE)
The tax on motor vehicle, with the exception of field
vehicles.
(F) SINGLE TAX ON INSURANCE CONTRACTS
The single tax on insurance contracts, with the exception of
field vehicles.
(G) REGISTRATION FEE OF FIVE PERCENT (5%)
(H) DUTY STAMP ON MATRICULATION AND ESTATE PUBLICITY
22.2 OPERATIONS PHASE
22.2.1 With the exception of the following duties, royalties and taxes, the
Company is exempt from all other royalties, duties and taxes:
(A) FIXED DUTIES
- award or renewal 1 000 000 F CFA
- transfer 2 000 000 F CFA
- extension 2 500 000 F CFA
(B) ANNUAL SURFACE RIGHTS:
- first term of validity 100 000 CFA/km(2)
- second term of validity 100 000 CFA/km(2)
- extension 150 000 CFA/km(2)
(C) MINING ROYALTY
The Mining Royalty at the rate of the rate five and one half
per cent (5.5%) of the F.O.B. value of the final Product.
(D) REGISTRATION FEES:
(E) DUTY STAMP, MATRICULATION AND PUBLICITY TAX.
(F) PROPERTY TAX
This tax is due for all buildings belonging to the Company,
to the exclusion:
1. Installations with industrial usage and their
dependences, stores, garages, quarries, grounds;
2. Buildings allocated to social activities (hospitals,
dispensaries);
3. Buildings for school and professional training;
4. Non inhabited houses;
The tax will be due at a rate of 1% for houses available
free to the staff and at the rate of 2.5% for buildings not
exempted under points 1.2.3.4. above.
(G) TAX ON THE CLASSIFIED ESTABLISHMENTS.
(H) INCOME TAX PAYABLE BY EMPLOYEES.
The Operating Company will pay the State income tax owed by
his (her) employees, retained at the source in accordance to
the regulations in force. The clause of stability does not
apply to this tax.
(I) TAX ON INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL PROFITS:
The Tax on Industrial and Commercial Profits at the rate of
thirty five per cent (35%), which will be calculated in
accordance with fiscal regulations in force in Niger. The
depreciation rates applicable for the calculation of the Tax
on Industrial and Commercial Profits are shown in Appendix
II. The Operating Company is exempted from the tax on
industrial and commercial profit during five (5) years for
large mines and two (2) years for small mines from the date
of the first production.
(J) INCOME TAX ON REAL ESTATE:
The income tax on real estate at the rate of ten per cent
(10%).
(K) DIFFERENTIAL TAX ON MOTOR VEHICLES (VIGNETTE)
This tax is due, with the exception of heavy equipment and
all other vehicles used specifically for the Mining
Operations.
(L) SINGLE TAX ON INSURANCE CONTRACTS:
This tax is due, with the exception of contracts for
operations relating to industrial installations whatever the
place of subscription.
(M) VALUE ADDED TAX
The VAT is due to the rate nineteen per cent (19%), in
accordance to current fiscal legislation at the date of
signature of the Agreement. However and without prejudice to
the regulations at appendix III, are exempted from the VAT:
o the electric energy supplied and produced.
o the contract services of all kinds relating to the
mining Operations of a value equal or over 500 000 F
CFA for each individual contract.
22.2.2 Interest and other expenses from funds borrowed by the Operating Company
for equipment or operations are exempt from all taxes and levies
whatsoever.
22.3 CUSTOMS REGULATIONS
22.3.1 Throughout the term of the Agreement, goods, materials, supplies,
machinery and equipment and spare parts intended directly for the Mining
Operations, as well as petroleum products used in fixed plant, are
exempt from all duties and taxes collectable on entry, including Value
Added Tax (VAT), but at the exclusion of the statistical tax at the rate
of one per cent (1%).
The list of goods, materials, supplies, machinery and equipment, and
spare parts, intended directly for the Mining Operations, as well as
petroleum products used in fixed plant, is given in Appendix III. With
respect to this list, it is specified that the exemption shall not apply
to goods, materials and products similar to those manufactured in Niger.
The exemption is subject to the completion of the following formalities
by the Company, the Operating Company or their suppliers:
1) The Company or the Operating Company shall draw up a statement
certifying, on its own authority, that the goods, materials, supplies,
machines and equipment
acquired or imported are intended for use in the mining activities
undertaken by the Company or the Operating Company.
This certification, drawn up in quadruplicate (4 copies) and stamped by
the Director of Mines, shall define the goods to be exempted and
indicate their reference or category in the list of Appendix III. The
certification implies the undertaking by the Company and the Operating
Company to pay all dues and penalties which would become payable in the
event that the goods were not assigned to the designated tax or duty
exempt use, or were transferred without prior payment of such dues.
One copy is retained by the Depatment of Mines and another by the
Company or the Operating Company as a bookkeeping voucher. One copy is
delivered to the supplier and the remaining copy to the Customs
Administration in the case of imported goods listed in Appendix III.
2) The Company, the Operating Company and the suppliers of goods shall
keep their books in such a way as to show distinctly:
- matters falling into the category of exemptions
- matters subject to duties and taxes.
3) Suppliers of goods and equipment may enter in their books as matters
falling into the category of exemptions, only those transactions for
which they can produce the stamped certification mentioned above.
22.3.2 Goods not consumable at one time may be placed under the temporary
admission regime, free of all entry duties and taxes, including Value
Added Tax, but exclusive of the statistical tax.
In the event that goods or equipment placed in temporary admission cease
to be directly allocated to the Mining Operations of the Company or the
Operating Company, the latter is required immediately to pay the duties
and taxes which will be calculated in accordance with the Customs
regulations in effect.
22.3.3 In the event of re-sale in Niger of items imported duty-free by virtue
of the preceding provisions, the Company, the Operating Company and/or
their Affiliated Companies with respect to their authorised activities,
and their sub-contractors or personnel, shall advise the State of the
same, and shall remain liable for the payment of duties on the re-sold
articles. The articles shall be assessed at their true market value in
accordance with the legislative and regulatory provisions in effect.
22.3.4 Upon export, Products are exempt from all export duties and taxes, from
all taxes on export revenues, and from all other fees collectable on
exit from the country, throughout the entire period of validity of the
Agreement.
22.3.5 In accordance with the Customs code, expatriate personnel of the Company
or the Operating Company shall benefit from exemption from duties and
taxes on the import of their personal effects.
22.3.6 Upon re-export, materials and equipment which have been used for the
performance of exploration, mining and mineral processing work shall be
exempt from all export duties and taxes normally due.
ARTICLE 23 - ECONOMIC PROVISIONS
23.1 The State undertakes, throughout the term of the Agreement, not to
engage or to promulgate, with respect to the Company, the Operating
Company and their sub-contractors, any measure implying a restriction to
the conditions in which the current or future legislation that allows:
a) subject to the provisions of article 18 above, the free choice of
suppliers;
b) free importation of goods, materials, machines, equipment, spare
parts and consumables;
c) free export of Products;
d) free marketing with any bona fide Company;
e) freedom of movement throughout Niger of goods and materials of the
Company, the Operating Company and their sub-contractors, as well as all
substances and Products derived from the exploration and mining
activities.
The selling price of the Products shall be expressed in US Dollars.
23.2 The Company or the Operating Company shall not enter into any agreement
with an Affiliated Company at conditions more advantageous to the
Affiliated Company than those negotiated with any third Party.
23.3 If, during or at the conclusion of its mining operations in Niger, the
Operating Company decides to cease its activities, it may only transfer
its facilities, machineries and equipment to any Third Party after
granting the State pre-emptive right on the goods at their appraised
value at the time of such decision.
ARTICLE 24 - FINANCIAL CONDITIONS
24.1 Subject to the currency exchange regulations in effect in Niger, the
State guarantees to the Company, the Operating Company and their
sub-contractors, throughout the duration of the Agreement:
a) free conversion and transfer of funds for the settlement of all debts
(principal and interest) associated with the Mining Operations in Niger,
in favour of foreign creditors;
b) free conversion and transfer of net profits to be distributed to
foreign shareholders, after payment of all applicable taxes and levies;
c) free conversion and transfer of proceeds from the sale of assets,
after payment of applicable taxes, duties and levies.
24.2 The Company, the Operating Company and their sub-contractors shall be
authorised to open a foreign currency bank account in Niger.
24.3 The State guarantees the free conversion and overseas transfer of the
savings made on their salaries or the proceeds from the winding-up of
any investments in Niger, or from the sale of personal effects in Niger,
by the expatriate personnel of the Company and its sub-contractors.
ARTICLE 25 - LAND AND MINING GUARANTEES
25.1 The State guarantees to the Company and to the Operating Company
occupancy and use of all lands necessary for the exploration and mining
of the Deposit(s) covered by the exploration and/or mining permits under
this Agreement, both within and outside the Perimeter, in the conditions
provided for by the Mining law.
25.2 In order to achieve the objectives of this Agreement, the Company or the
Operating Company may use materials which have been recuperated in the
course of the work, and the natural elements (e.g. surface and
underground water) found within the limits of the Perimeter of the
exploration or mining permit, in accordance with the provisions of
articles 64 and 114 of the Mining law.
ARTICLE 26 - EXPROPRIATION
The State undertakes not to expropriate the Company or the Operating
Company of any of their goods or assets. Their facilities may only be
expropriated in most exceptional circumstances, subject to
indemnification as determined by an administrative or arbitration
tribunal.
ARTICLE 27 - PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND REHABILITATION OF THE MINE SITE
The exploitation of any new deposit is subjected to a preliminary
execution of an environmental impact according to the environmental
legislation in force at the effective date of the agreement.
The Company undertakes to take the necessary measures for the environmental
protection connected to Mining Operations. Are mainly concerned:
- the protection of natural sites,
- the preservation of the health and safety of the neighbouring population
and more generally public health,
- the conservation of the fauna and the natural flora implanted locally,
- the protection of the natural resources
The measures taken should be in conformity with the requirements stipulated by
the current environmental legislation at the effective date of the Agreement or,
otherwise be considered acceptable practices by the mining industry.
Commitments to be taken by the Company concern more particularly the following
points:
- to execute mining operations in accordance with the mining legislation and
acceptable practices;
- to carry out throughout the mining period, periodic quality tests of the
water, soil and air within the Perimeter and adjoining areas;
- to manage the way soils and rocks are manipulated so as to assure the
stability of the grounds without adverse consequences on the drainage
regime, the quality of surface water, deposition of sediments, creation of
non secure dams and protection against erosion;
- to control any discharge of solutions that because of their origin might
contain polluting substances from soils, air and water;
- to manage water drainage in order to prevent their pollution outside the
Perimeter and beyond the Mining Operations period;
- to manage in a effective and proper way, all the industrial waste produced
by Mining Operations in the allocated zones, proposed by the Company and
approved by the public institution responsible for the environmental
protection, to avoid their dispersal in the natural environment;
- to rehabilitate the sites after their exploitation by the control of the
zones disrupted by Mining Operations and their topographic configuration
adapted to local climatic conditions to minimize as possible a natural
degradation;
- to install a surveillance system allowing the control of the measures
implemented and their efficiency in the limitation of the residual impacts
on the rearranged sites and their evolution, in accordance with the
current environmental legislation at the effective date of the Agreement;
- to respect a probationary 5 year period of surveillance after the Mining
Operations, However, the responsible institution could decide to lighten
or terminate the surveillance before the end of the period.
Any harmful infringement on the environment, on the health and on the safety of
the neighbouring populations resulting from the non compliance by the Company,
engages this one.
ARTICLE 28 - TREASURES AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS
28.1 All archaeological riches, treasures and any other element deemed to be
of value and discovered during the performance of the works shall remain
the exclusive property of the State. Such discoveries shall be declared
immediately by the Company or the Operating Company to the appropriate
authority of the State.
28.2 If the Perimeter contains archaeological excavations or becomes
subsequently the site of such excavations, the Company or the Operating
Company undertakes to carry out its work in such a manner as not to
impede on it.
ARTICLE 29 - TRANSFER - NEW PARTIES
29.1 The Company or the Operating Company may, with the written authorisation
of the State and subject to the provisions of the Mining law, transfer
its rights and obligations under the Agreement as well as its
exploration and mining permits, to other corporate bodies.
The State's consent will be granted if its interests are not
compromised. In that case, the transferees shall take on all the rights
and obligations of the transferor arising from the Agreement, as well as
those derived from the exploration and mining permits.
At the time of transfer by the Company or the Operating Company of all
the rights and obligations acquired under the Agreement and/or the
exploration and/or mining permits, the proceeds of the transaction shall
be determined for taxation purposes in accordance with generally
recognised financial techniques, and shall be taxed, if appropriate, at
the time of the transaction, in accordance with fiscal legislation in
effect in Niger.
In case of transaction on the exploration results or on a deposit
discovery before its mining, the Company undertakes to give 10% of the
transaction proceeds to the State.
29.2 The State's consent shall be obtained for a shareholder in the Operating
Company to sell, assign or transfer to a Third Party all or some of the
shares of the authorised capital of the Operating Company. The State's
consent shall be granted if its interests are not compromised.
Once this consent is obtained, the proceeds of the transaction shall be
determined for taxation purposes, in accordance with generally
recognised financial techniques and, in accordance with fiscal
legislation in force in Niger.
29.3 The State shall have the pre-emptive right over any potential acquirer
to acquire the shares in the Operating Company which a shareholder
wishes to sell, at the same price, terms and conditions. This
pre-emptive right shall be exercised by the State and the transaction
concluded within a period of sixty (60) days from the date of receipt of
a written notice from the Operating Company to the effect that one of
its shareholders wishes to dispose of its shares.
If, within this period of sixty (60) days, no response has been given by
the State, or no transaction has been concluded, the pre-emptive right
of the State in respect of this transaction shall be null and void.
29.4 The Company or the Operating Company shall have the same pre-emptive
right as that of the State in article 19.3 above, for the purchase of
shares in the event that the State should decide to sell all or part of
its holding.
Notwithstanding the provisions of the previous paragraph, the State's
shares or holdings may be assigned or transferred, without restriction,
on a priority basis to companies of Niger in which the State holds an
interest, or to nationals of Niger or companies incorporated under the
laws of Niger and controlled by the citizens of Niger.
ARTICLE 30 - MODIFICATION
Any clause which is not covered in this Agreement may be proposed by one
or the other of the Parties and shall be reviewed with care. Any request
for modification addressed to one of the Parties must be answered or
negotiated within thirty (30) days following its receipt. Each Party
shall strive to reach a mutually acceptable solution and, if
appropriate, the said clause shall form the subject of an addendum
approved by an order in Council of Ministers and attached to the
Agreement.
ARTICLE 31 - NO WAIVER, PARTIAL NULLITY, RESPONSIBILITIES
31.1 NO WAIVER
Except in the case of explicit or implicit waiver by the Parties in the
cases specified above, failure by the State or the Company or the
Operating Company to exercise all or any of their rights and
prerogatives does not signify a waiver of such rights and prerogatives.
31.2 PARTIAL NULLITY
If, by mutual agreement of the Parties, any provision of the Agreement
is declared or deemed to be void and non applicable in whole or in part,
for any reason whatsoever, this shall not void the Agreement which shall
remain in force.
31.3 RESPONSIBILITIES
The Company, the Operating Company and their sub-contractors must take
out all mandatory insurance policies in accordance with insurance plans
in force in Niger.
ARTICLE 32 - FORCE MAJEURE
32.1 A Party is not held responsible for the non execution of some of its
obligations as far it proves that:
- the non execution was due by a hindrance beyond his control,
impossible to prevent and foresee its effects on the execution of the
Agreement and,
- it would not have been able to reasonably avoid or solve this
hindrance or, to say the least, its effects.
32.2 A hindrance as indicated a the article 32.1 above can result from the
events hereunder, this enumeration being not limitative:
a) declared or not declared war, civil war, riots, revolutions, acts of
piracy, sabotages,
b) natural cataclysm such as violent storms, cyclones, earthquakes,
tidal wave, floods, destruction by lighting,
c) explosions, fires, destruction of machines, factories and
installations whatever they are,
d) boycotts, strikes , lockout whatever the way, strikes of zeal,
occupations of factories and premises, interruption of work by the
staff of the Company asking the exemption of its responsibility,
e) licit or illicit acts by the authority, with the exception of those
a Party assumes the risk under the terms of the Agreement.
32.3 Immediately as the hindrance and its effects on its aptitude to carry
out its obligations are known, the Party which asks the exemption of its
responsibility will inform as soon as possible the other Party about
this hindrance and its effects on the execution of its commitments. An
announcement will be also given at the expiration of the reason for the
release of responsibility.
32.4 The motive of the responsibility exemption comes into effect from the
moment of the hindrance occurs or, if the announcement is not given in
due course. By not giving this announcement the Party is liable to
damages which otherwise could have been avoided.
32.5 A motive of responsibility exemption under the present clause, exempts
the failing Party from the payment of damages, fines and other
contractual penalties, with the exception payment of interest on due
sums.
32.6 Besides, it suspends the delay of execution during a reasonable period,
consequently excluding the eventual right of the other Party to cancel
the
Agreement. For the determination of a reasonable period, will be taken
into account the capacity of the failing Party to resume its execution
and the interest of the other Party to benefit from this execution in
spite of the delays. The other Party can suspend the execution of its
own obligations while waiting for the execution of the obligations of
the failing Party.
32.7 If the motives of the exemption go beyond one (1) year, one Party or the
other will have the right to cancel the Agreement through a
notification.
32.8 Every Party can keep what it has obtained through the execution of the
Agreement before its termination. Every Party is accountable towards the
other for any enrichment unrelated to this execution. The final payment
shall be done immediately.
ARTICLE 33 - BOOKKEEPING, AUDITS AND REPORTS
33.1 The Operating Company undertakes, throughout the term of the Agreement:
a) to keep detailed accounts in accordance with the chart of accounts in
force in Niger, together with supporting vouchers attesting its
accuracy. The books shall be open to audit by State representatives
specifically retained for that purpose in accordance with current
legislation;
b) to open for an audit by duly authorised representatives of the State,
all accounts or entries located abroad and related to its operations in
Niger.
33.2 The Operating Company shall at its own expense, have its financial
statements audited annually by a recognised accounting firm authorised
to practise in Niger. It shall submit a copy of the auditors' report to
the Minister, who reserves the right at any time to have the Operating
Company audited either by the Chambre des Comptes (Public Accounts
Committee) and the Chambre Administrative (Administrative Chamber), or
by an inspector of finances, or by a private firm.
33.3 The Company or the Operating Company shall at its own expense, submit to
the Minister the reports prescribed by the Mining law. The Minister
reserves the right to demand any modification deemed necessary to the
presentation of any report. Such modifications shall in no case be
required for reports already submitted.
33.4 Only duly empowered representatives of the State shall have the
authority at any time to inspect, without hindering the operations of
the Company or of the Operating Company , the facilities, equipment,
material, records and documents relating to the Mining Operations.
33.5 The State reserves the right to obtain assistance at its own cost and at
any time from an internationally recognised inspection firm in order to
verify, without
impeding the operations of the Operating Company, the data submitted by
the Operating Company or its sub-contractors under this Agreement.
33.6 A control log of metal grade values shall be maintained by the Operating
Company for each shipment out of the country, and the Minister is
entitled to have each entry in this log verified and checked by his duly
authorised representatives.
33.7 All information brought to the knowledge of the State by the Company or
the Operating Company in the performance of the Agreement shall be
treated in accordance with the Mining law.
ARTICLE 34 - SANCTIONS AND PENALTIES
In the event of failure to meet obligations resulting from the laws and
regulations in force on the date of execution of this Agreement, to the
extent that the laws and regulations are applicable to the Company or to
the Operating Company, the sanction and penalties provided for by these
legislative or regulatory texts shall be applicable, including fines,
penalties, late-payment interest and all other measures and constraints
provided for in these texts.
ARTICLE 35 - NOTIFICATIONS
All communications or notices provided for in this Agreement shall be
made by registered mail with acknowledgement of receipt or by telex and
facsimile confirmed by registered mail with acknowledgement of receipt.
a) All notifications to the State may legitimately be sent to the
following address:
MINISTERE CHARGE DES MINES
BOITE POSTALE 11700
NIAMEY, NIGER
FAX: (227) 73.39.69 TEL: (227) 73 27 59
b) All notices to the Company shall be sent to the following address.
NORTHWESTERN MINERAL VENTURES INC.
0000-00 XXXXXXX XXXXXX
XXXXXXX, XXXXXXX, X0X 0X0, XXXXXX
TEL: (000) 000-0000, FAX: (000) 000-0000
Any change of address shall be communicated in writing by one Party to
the other as expeditiously as possible.
ARTICLE 36 - LANGUAGE OF THE CONTRACT AND SYSTEM OF MEASUREMENT
36.1 The Agreement is drawn in the French language. All reports or other
documents written or to be submitted under this Agreement are to be in
the French language.
36.2 If the translation into a language other than that of the Agreement is
to be made, it shall be done exclusively to facilitate the performance
of the Agreement. In the event of a discrepancy between the French text
and the translated text, the French text shall prevail.
36.3 The system of measurement applicable is the metric system.
Done at Niamey, the........ In Five (5) original copies
FOR THE STATE FOR THE COMPANY
MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR MINES PRESIDENT
XXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX XXXXX XXXXX
APPENDIX 1
RESOLUTION
ADMINISTRATION COUNCIL
NORTHWESTERN MINERAL VENTURES
APPENDIX II
ANNUAL RATE OF AMORTIZATION
NATURE OF GOODS TO AMORTIZE ANNUAL RATE OF AMORTIZATION
Exploration expenses, costs of studies and tests 20%
Complementary exploration expenses or water supply (prospecting, drilling,
pumping tests, prospecting by underground work through principal and
secondary galleries, percussion drilling, tunnel shafts, assemblies including
canalizations for water, ventilation and refrigeration) 20%
Preliminary mining work expenses (initial discovery, open pit mining
set-up, vertical shafts, tunnel shafts, crosscuts, assemblies, canalizations,
ventilation set-up, landing and storage shafts, including the materials and
equipment of loading ramps, storage and tunnel shafts. 20%
Operating costs of the Mining Company including professional training
expenses during the installation and preparation period 20%
Financial costs during the installation and preparation period 20%
Light constructions from the mining site including shelters, all dismountable
and transportable buildings 20%
Light buildings with concrete basement 5%
Buildings and permanent structures
- of industrial use 5%
- dwelling, offices 2%
Roads and water abduction 5%
Civil engineering (earthwork, foundations, etc)
- of industrial use 5%
- dwelling, offices 2%
Interior set-up of the workshops 10%
Dwelling and office furniture 10%
Telephone 10%
Fixed compressors 10%
Machine tools 10%
Engines, pumps of less than 5 CV 20%
Engines, pumps of more than 5 CV 15%
Roller conveyors, crane gantries, cranes 10%
Hoists and winches power up to 2 T 10%
Manual hoists and winches 20%
Small tools 20%
Controlling and measuring apparatus 20%
Fixed laboratory equipment 10%
Mobile laboratory equipment 20%
Fixed power generators 10%
Mobile power generators 10%
Material of distribution H.T.
- transformers 5%
- power shutoff and protection equipment 5%
- power lines 5%
Sites of transformation or cellular type switchboard distribution
- interior type 5%
- external type 5%
- surface mobile type 20%
- underground mobile type 20%
Material of distribution H.T.
- above ground fixed equipment 10%
- underground fixed equipment 10%
- surface mobile equipment 20%
- underground mobile equipment 20%
Rigid electric cables
- Surface fixed cables 10%
- Underground fixed cables a 10%
Helmet and portable lamps 20%
Loading benches 10%
Surface and underground lighting equipments 20%
Mobile or semi mobile installations for ore preparation and
handling 20%
Materials and equipments for the ore treatment plant 10%
Underground mobile refrigerators 20%
Underground movable feeder 20%
Fixed cold xxxxxxxx 10%
Materials and equipment of civil engineering, loading, transport,
and handling 33.33%
In the event that the life expectancy of the Mines would be shorter than the
amortization period foreseen above, these rates of amortization will be adjusted
to the lifespan of the Mine as determined by the Feasibility study.
APPENDIX III
LIST MATERIALS, MACHINERIES AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE MINING OPERATIONS, WHICH ARE
EXEMPTED OF ALL DUES, ROYALTIES AND TAXES AT THE EXCEPTION OF THE STATISTICAL
TAX
- CHAP 2: salt; sulphur; earth and stones; plaster; lime and cement.
- 25-01, 25-03 to 25-08, 25-10 to 25-13, 25-16, 25-17,
25-20, 25-21 to 25-30
- CHAP 27: mineral fuel, mineral oil and products from their distillation,
bituminous substances, mineral waxes.
Whole chapter except:
- 00-00-00-00 and 33 = Gasoline
- 00-00-00-00 = Kerosene
- 00-00-00-00 = Diesel fuel
- 00-00-00-00 = lubricating oils
- 00-00-00-00 = for hydraulic brakes
- 00-00-00-00 = Greases
- 00-00-00-00 = others oils
- 00-00-00-00 = Butane gas
- 00-00-00-00 = Electric power
NB: Will be eligible to an exemption the following products under
following conditions:
- 00-00-00-00 Kerosene used for chemical
treatments
- 00-00-00-00 Diesel fuel
Industrial diesel used in the fixed installations or for the vehicles and
machines dedicated for mining operations will be coloured to distinguish
it from diesel used for travelling.
- 00-00-00-00 = lubricating oils
- 00-00-00-00 = for hydraulic brakes
- 00-00-00-00 = Greases
- 00-00-00-00 = other oils
For the four (4) positions above, the exemption will be applicable if the
lubricating oils, lubricants and other oils are used for fixed
installations and machines that are not affected for public transport.
- CHAP 28: Inorganic chemicals; inorganic or organic compounds of precious
metals, radioactive elements, rare earth metals and isotopes. Whole
chapter
- CHAP 29: Organic chemicals
Whole chapter
- CHAP 31: Fertilizer
- 00-00-00-00 = Ammonia sulphate
- 00-00-00-00 = Ammonium nitrate, even
aqueous solution
- CHAP 32: Tanning extracts; tannins and their derivatives; pigments and
other colouring substances; paints and varnishes; mastics; inks.
Whole chapter if industrial use
- CHAP 34: Soaps, detergents, preparations for lubricants, artificial
waxes, maintenance products, candles and similar articles,
modelling paste, dental waxes and plaster substances.
-34-02, 34-03
- CHAP 35: Albuminoidal substances, products with starches, clues,
enzymes.
-35-05, 35-06
- CHAP 36: Explosives, pyrotechnic articles, matches, inflammable alloys.
-36-02, 36-03
- CHAP 37: Photographic or cinematographic products
-37-01 to 37-05, 37-07 exonerated if (*)
- CHAP 38: Various products of chemical industries.
Whole chapter except
-38-11
- CHAP 39: Plastics and plastic works.
Whole chapter, except articles for domestic uses
- CHAP 40: Rubber and rubber works.
Whole chapter except:
-40-11 and 40-13 but exonerated for vehicles eligible to the
exemption
-40-14
- CHAP 42: Leather and leather works, saddles, travel articles, handbags
and similar bags, works in bowels.
-42-03, 42-04
- CHAP 44: Wood and wood works, charcoal.
Whole chapter except:
-44-01, 44-20
-44-21 for this position, articles for technical use will be
exempt.
- CHAP 45: Cork and cork works
Whole chapter
- CHAP 48: Papers, paperboards and works made from these substances.
Whole chapter if for technical use
- CHAP 49: Publishing and press products or from other graphic industries,
handwritten or typed texts and plans.
-49-05
- CHAP 59: Impregnated fabrics, covered or stratified coatings;
technical articles in textile.
-59-01 to 59-03 exonerated if for technical use
-59-09
-59-10 exonerated if for industrial use
-59-11
- CHAP 62: Clothing and clothing accessories, others that in button
factory.
-62-03 working uniform for industrial use
- CHAP 64: Shoes, legging and other similar articles.
-64-01 rubber boots for industrial use
-64-02 safety shoes for industrial use
-64-03 safety shoes for industrial use
-64-06 xxxxxxx, leggings for industrial use
- CHAP 65: Hats and hat parts
-65-06-10-00 safety helmets
- CHAP 68: Stone works, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar
substances.
Whole chapter except:
-68-01 to 68-03, 68-09, 68-15
- CHAP 69: Ceramic products
Whole chapter except:
-69-08, 69-10 to 69-14
- CHAP 70: Glasses and glass works
Whole chapter
-70-01, 70-02, 70-09, 70-11 to 00-00, 00-00, 00-00 xxx 00-00
- XXXX 00: Iron, cast iron, steel
Whole chapter, if for an industrial use
- CHAP 73: Cast iron, iron or steel works
Whole chapter except:
-73-16, 73-19, 73-21, 73-23
-73-40 exonerated if for technical use
- CHAP 74: Copper and copper works
Whole chapter except:
-74-13, 74-17, 74-18
-74-19 exonerated if for technical use
- CHAP 76: Aluminium and aluminium works
Whole chapter except:
-76-15
-76-16 exonerated if for technical use
- CHAP 78: Lead and lead works
Whole chapter except:
-78-01
-78-06 exonerated if for technical use
- CHAP 79: Zinc and zinc works
Whole chapter except:
-79-06 exonerated if for technical use
- CHAP 81: Other common metals and works made from these substances
Whole chapter if for technical use
- CHAP 82: Tools and set of tools, cutlery, plates, dishes and parts of
these articles in base metals.
Whole chapter except:
-82-10, 82-12 to 82-15
- CHAP 83: Various base metal works
Whole chapter except:
-83-01, 83-02 exonerated if for industrial use
-83-04, 83-04 office supplies exonerated if article is
for technical use
-83-06, 83-08 exonerated if for industrial use
-83-10, 83-11 exonerated if for industrial use
- CHAP 84: Nuclear reactors, boiler, machinery, mechanical engines and
apparatuses; parts of these engines or apparatuses.
Whole chapter except:
-84-14-51, 84-15, 84-18 exonerated if for industrial use
-84-20
-84-21-12, 84-21-22, 84-21-91, 84-22-40, 84-23
exonerated if for industrial use
-84-21-81-10
-84-24-81-20 exonerated if for industrial use
-84-32 to 84-42
-84-43 exonerated if for industrial use
-84-44 to 84-55
-84-69 to 84-71 exonerated if for industrial use
-84-74 to 84-75
NB:
1(degree)) For position 84-09, the parts and the spare parts of the
machinery and vehicles included under chapter 87, will be
exonerated.
2(degree)) Spare parts of motors and machinery indicated at 00-000-00 and
84-30 8, as well the parts and spare parts of engine motors
and vehicles included under chapter 87, will be exonerated
(vehicles for special use, compressors, cranes,
concrete-mixers, power generators, etc.)
- CHAP 85: Machinery, electric apparatuses and equipment and their
parts; sound recording, sound reproduction, image recording and
image reproduction equipment, television, and their parts and
accessories.
Whole chapter except:
-85-06
-85-09 exonerated if for industrial use
-85-10
-85-16 water-heater exonerated if for industrial use
-85-17 exonerated if for industrial use
-85-18 exonerated if industrial use
-85-19 radios, combined radio sets and their spare parts
-85-20
-85-21 exonerated if for industrial use
-85-23
-85-24 exonerated if for industrial use
-85-25 exonerated if for industrial use
NB: Articles indicated at 85-19, transmitters, receivers, antennas and
their parts under 85-27, 85-28, and 85-29 will be exonerated if for
industrial use.
- CHAP 86: Railway vehicles and equipment and their spare parts;
mechanical and electro mechanical apparatuses for railroad
signalisation.
Whole chapter except:
-86-01 exonerated if for industrial use
-86-03 exonerated if for industrial use
-86-05
- CHAP 87: Motor vehicles, tractors and other vehicles, their parts and
accessories.
Whole chapter except :
-87-02 motor vehicles for public transport
-87-03 private cars and other motor vehicles
exonerated if for technical use
-87-04 motor vehicles for goods transportation
exonerated if for technical use
-87-08 parts and accessories of the motor vehicles under
87-01 to 87-05
-87-10
-87-11 exonerated for mining exploration
-87-12, 87-13
-87-14 exonerated for vehicles dedicated for technical use
-87-15 -87-16-20-00 exonerated if for technical use
-87-16-39-10, 00-00-00-00
- CHAP 90: Optical instrumentation and apparatuses for photography,
cinematography, control and precision measurements; medico-surgical
instrumentation and apparatuses; their parts and accessories.
-90-04 except 90.04.90.10 (corrective glasses)
-90-06 exonerated if for technical use
-90-11, 90-12, 90-14 to 90-17
-90-20 exonerated if for technical use
-90-22, 90-24 to 90-33
- CHAP 91: Clock-making
-91-06, 91-07, 00-00-00-00 exonerated if for technical use
- CHAP 94: Medico-surgical furniture and furnishings, bed linen articles
and similar items; lighting equipments not mentioned nor included
elsewhere; lamps and neon-tube for advertisement and similar items.
-94-03, 94-05, 94-06 exonerated if for technical use
- CHAP 96: Various works
-96-04 sieve and hand screeners
-96-08 markers
-96-11 if for technical use (labelling apparatuses)
-96-12 if for technical use (for apparatuses)
The above list is enumerative and consequently can be modified
according to the needs by a written request to the Director of
the Mines for an approval.
APPENDIX IV
DELIMITATION OF THE PROSPECTING PERMIT PERIMETER OF IRHAZER
The perimeter of "Irhazer" is located in the Agades area, department of
Tchirozrine.
The coordinates of the perimeter as represented at appendix V on the 1/200 000
scale topographic map are:
Points Longitude Latitude
A. 07(degree) 00' 00" 17(degree) 42' 00"
B. 07(degree) 16' 00" 17(degree) 42' 00"
C. 07(degree) 16' 00" 17(degree) 08' 15"
D. 06(degree) 49' 44" 17(degree) 08' 15"
E. 06(degree) 49' 44" 17(degree) 16' 00"
F. 07(degree) 00' 00" 17(degree) 16' 00"
The licence thus defined covers a surface of approximately 2000 km(2).
APPENDIX V
TOPOGRAPHIC MAP
APPENDIX VI
WORK PROGRAM
INTRODUCTION
1- MINING POTENTIAL EVALUATION OF THE IRHAZER PERMIT
The history of the uranium deposits and showings discoveries in the Xxx Mersoi
Basin reveals the following observations:
a) The economic uranium mineralization is essentially associated to
sandstones and conglomerates units, inter bedded in silteous clay with
a high content of organic vegetation substances or laying on a major
erosion discontinuity.
b) A tectonic structural control of the uranium mineralization,
particularly by the Arlit flexure-fault and its satellite fault zones.
c) The presence of the mineralization in the neighbourhood of the Air
crystalline basement, particularly in the areas of acid volcanic
activity and plutonic granite.
d) Uranium mineralized host formations are more recent toward the South
and the West of the Mersoi Basin. Consequently, the uranium showings
located above 19(degree) N are in Devonian-Carboniferous formations
while the Arlit and Akouta deposits further south are in the
Permian-Carboniferous.
The Imouraren deposit at 18(degree) N is within the Tchirezrine
sandstones from Jurassic (Agades Group) while the Abokorum-Azelik
deposits further south are associated to lenses of sandstones at the
base of the Irhazer that are from Lower Cretaceous.
The Irhazer prospecting permit is located about 80 km to the West of the Air
crystalline basement in the Agades area of Niger. The desert area has a
monotonous relief and covered by sand, the topography varies from 382m to 451m
above sea level.
The perimeter is almost entirely covered by Irhazer shales, outcrops of
sandstones can be found near some faults.
In regard to the tectonic features, uranium mineralization could be associated
to the two zones of faults that run N30(degree) to N45(degree) across the
permit. One zone goes from the Air basement (Tamaze zone) to the Geleli-Azelik
deposit and in between along the Azouza and Ilarhassane Mounts. The second zone
runs across the southern part of the permit along Gagochia, Mount Teliguinit and
Mount Tin Negoran.
The sandstones lenses at the base of the Irhazer are the stratigraphic
exploration targets.
An airborne magnetic/radiometric survey funded by IRSA was carried out in
1974-75 by Xxxxxxxx Survey Corporation over the Irhazer permit.
2- OBJECTIVES
Northwestern Mineral Ventures Inc. does not have specific criteria concerning
the grade and tonnage of uranium mineralization for the start up of a mining
operation; the decision will rest on the profitability of the project.
In regard to the evolution of the mining methods, the company plans to look for
low grade deep-seated deposits.
WORK PROGRAM FOR THE FIRST YEAR
o Marking of the perimeter boundary
o Airborne magnetic/radiometric survey
o Geological mapping
o Ground follow up
Execution of a high sensitivity airborne survey magnetic/radiometric; 5000 line
kilometres will be flown at a line spacing of 400m. The ground interval of the
measurements will be about 25m at a reading sequence of 0,5 second.
Ground follow up of the anomalies detected by the airborne survey and geological
mapping at 1: 20 000 and 1: 50 000 scales.
WORK PROGRAM FOR THE SECOND YEAR
o Ground follow up
o Geological mapping
o Drilling
Another local geologist and a technician will be hired during the second year.
Geological mapping at 1: 10 000 will be carried out over the sites of interest
if the density of the outcrops is sufficient.
The reverse circulation drilling will be carried out at an average depth of 400
meters, the drilling grid interval will be determined from the number and size
of the radiometric anomalies. The down hole measurement interval of the
radiometry will be one meter.
The drilling samples will be assayed for uranium and multi elements using the
ICP method.
WORK PROGRAM FOR THE THIRD YEAR
o Geological mapping
o Drilling
Drilling will be also the main activity during the third year in order to
achieve a pre feasibility study the following year. The drilling grid interval
will be 100m for the evaluation of the uranium resource.
BUDGET
FIRST YEAR $ US
- Contribution to the technical training 20 000
- Wages of the expatriate personnel 15 000
- Wages of the local personnel 30 000
- Airborne Survey 5000 km X $14 70 000
- Vehicle purchase 15 000
- Equipment purchase and lease 10 000
- Office, field camp 10 000
- Travel, communications 10 000
- Consumables, fuel 10 000
- Miscellaneous 10 000
TOTAL 200 000
SECOND YEAR
- Contribution to the technical training 20 000
- Wages of the expatriate personnel 40 000
- Wages of the local personnel 30 000
- Reverse circulation drilling 6000 m X $50 300 000
- Down hole geophysics 6000 m X $10 60 000
- Chemical assays 6500 X $8 52 000
- Vehicle purchase 15 000
- Equipment purchase and lease 15 000
- Office, field camp 15 000
- Travel, communications 15 000
- Consumables, fuel 15 000
- Miscellaneous 23 000
TOTAL 600 000
THIRD YEAR $ US
- Contribution to the technical training 20 000
- Wages of the expatriate personnel 70 000
- Wages of the local personnel 75 000
- Reverse circulation drilling 15500 m X $50 775 000
- Down hole geophysics 15500 m x $10 155 000
- Chemical assays 16500 X $8 132 000
- Equipment purchase and lease 25 000
- Office, field camp 40 000
- Travel and communications 30 000
- Consumables, fuel 25000
- Miscellaneous 53 000
TOTAL 1 400 000
THREE YEARS BUDGET 2 200 000 $ US
NB. The marking of the boundary, the geological mapping and the ground follow up
of the radiometric anomalies are included in the wages. Control assays will be
carried out on 5% of the samples.
Local permanent personnel will include a senior geologist who will be assigned
project director, a secretary, a driver and two watchmen, a consultant will be
hired for specific tasks.
Additional personnel will be recruited on a temporary basis during the field
season.
