Section 65, The Mines and Minerals Act, 2009

(1) The holder of a reconnaissance licence shall- 44 45 holder of Obligations of holder reconnaissance (a) commence reconnaissance operations within ninety calendar days of the date of issue of the reconnaissance licence; (b) carry out reconnaissance operations in accordance with his approved programme of reconnaissance operations; (c) not engage in drilling, excavation or other subsurface exploration techniques; (d) not remove any mineral from the reconnaissance area except for the purpose of having such mineral analysed, valued or tested; (e) be subject to all taxes, royalty and other fees relating to a sale of minerals as authorized in paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section 64 as if the minerals sold were obtained under a mining licence; (f) compensate users of land for damage to land and property resulting from reconnaissance operations in the licence area; (g) maintain and restore, from any damage resulting from reconnaissance operations, the land subject to the licence to a safe state and in compliance with environmental laws and standards; (h) unless the Director otherwise stipulates, remove within sixty calendar days of the expiration of the reconnaissance licence, any camps, temporary buildings or machinery erected or installed by the holder and repair or otherwise make good any damage to the surface of the ground occasioned by such removal to the satisfaction of the Director; (i) subject to the conditions of the reconnaissance licence and the provisions of section 67, expend on reconnaissance operations in accordance with his programme of reconnaissance operations, not less than such amount as may be specified in the reconnaissance licence; (j) annually submit to the Director and the Director of Geological Survey, a confidential report containing the information required under the licence in such form as may be prescribed, which shall include, but not be limited to copies of the records required under subsection (2); (k) provide the full results, data and interpretation as prescribed of any airborne geophysical survey done in connection with the reconnaissance licence area within six months of acquisition; (l) employ and train Sierra Leoneans in accordance with the approved proposals the particulars of which have been appended to the licence; and (m) keep and maintain in Sierra Leone an address to be registered with the Ministry and to which all communications and notices may be addressed. (2) The holder of a reconnaissance licence shall keep at the address referred to in paragraph (m) of subsection (1), full and accurate records, to the satisfaction of the Minister, of its reconnaissance operations which shall show, among other things- (a) minerals discovered; (b) the results of any geochemical or geophysical analysis; 46 47 (c) the results of any analysis or identification of minerals removed for such purposes; (d) the geological interpretation of the records maintained under paragraphs (a) to (c); (e) the number and particulars of persons employed; (f) other work done in connection with the reconnaissance licence; and (g) such other matters as may be prescribed. (3) The holder of a reconnaissance licence shall submit to the Director and the Director of Geological Survey not later than ninety calendar days after the end of each year of the licence, an audited statement of expenditure directly incurred under the licence. (4) Any person who fails to keep any record or information required to be kept under subsection (2) or fails to supply any record or information to the Director or the Director of Geological Survey or who supplies any false or misleading record or information commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction- (a) in case of an individual, to a fine not less in leones, or to imprisonment for a term of two years, or to both, or less than thirty thousand dollars or its