On the evening of January 30 local time, Madagascar's Minister of Mining and Strategic Resources, Carl Andriamparany, delivered a public address via national television, officially announcing the lifting of the 16-year suspension on mining license issuance in the country. This marks a significant policy adjustment in Madagascar's mining sector. In his speech, Andriamparany stated that the core objective of lifting the suspension is to promote high-quality economic and social development, aligning with the government's overall strategy to enhance transparency in the mining sector, strengthen the refined governance of natural resources, and standardize the management of mining licenses. He acknowledged that the prolonged suspension of mining license issuance not only hindered the orderly development of legitimate mining activities but also, to some extent, fueled the spread of illegal mining, intensifying the pressure on resource conservation and regulatory oversight.

It is noteworthy that gold mining is not included in this lifting of restrictions. Andriamparany explicitly pointed out that relevant government departments are currently conducting internal discussions on the potential lifting of restrictions on gold mining. Subsequent measures will be formulated based on considerations such as resource conservation, ecological security, and industrial development, with targeted control and promotion plans to be introduced.

According to local mainstream media reports, the Council of Ministers of Madagascar officially reviewed and approved the resolution to resume mining license issuance on January 27, laying the institutional foundation for the implementation of this policy. The resumption of license issuance will adopt a classified management model, establishing three channels for license distribution: first, issuing specialized permits for small-scale mining practitioners to balance livelihood needs and regulatory standards; second, implementing competitive bidding for industrial-scale mining projects to ensure fairness and resource utilization efficiency; and third, delegating the handling of mining permits for special circumstances to the mining enforcement brigade to strengthen law enforcement coordination.

As one of the African countries with relatively abundant mineral resources, Madagascar possesses a variety of strategic mineral resources such as nickel, cobalt, and graphite. The mining sector represents a significant potential driver of the country's economy. According to the latest report from Madagascar's Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Action Plan, released at the end of 2025, the backlog of mining license applications in the country had reached 1,650 by 2023. The relaxation of this policy is expected to gradually address the backlog of approvals and revitalize the mining industry.