Apply for a permit to exploit mine gas exclusively

Companies and the non-profit sector with the technical and financial capacity to exploit mine gas in Wallonia

The exclusive licence has an advantage for the operator. It gives him the exclusive right to exploit this resource.

The procedure provides for 10 months between the call for competition and the notification of the granting of the permit.

FROM THE CALL FOR COMPETITION TO THE NOTIFICATION

1. Launch of the call for competition: a notice will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union. You will find there the scope of operation, the conditions, the obligations and the responsibilities
2. Submission of the application: you will have 3 months to submit your application, which must contain the documents required in the notice (more information on the documents to be provided below)
3. Sending the file by registered letter to the Minister of the Environment (please consult the notice for all the details)
4. Review of the file and request for additional information if necessary
5. A public inquiry launched within 30 days
6. A consultation of advisory bodies by our services
7. Sending a report to the Walloon government
8. Analysis and decision of the Walloon government based upon the selection criteria below
9. Notification of the decision

The application can be made in French and German. It does not involve any fees. However, bank guarantees may be required.

DOCUMENTS TO BE ATTACHED TO THE APPLICATION

The application will state:

• the name, surname, position and residence of the applicant
• a copy of the Articles of Association as well as the documents attesting to the powers of the signatories for the application if it is a company

these documents allow you to justify your technical and financial capacities:

• 5 copies of the regular surface plan showing the boundaries of the area within which you propose to search or operate. This plan, drawn up on a scale of 1:10,000, will indicate the boundaries of the neighbouring areas for which an exploration or exploitation permit has already been granted, as well as the mining concessions existing, in whole or in part, within the territory covered by the application. The contour of the area shown on the plan of the sector will be described precisely from one part to the next
• the titles, diplomas and professional references of the company's executives in charge of conducting and monitoring the exploration or exploitation work
• a list of any exploration or development of mine gas in which your company has been involved in the last three years. It will also include a summary description of the most important works
• a description of the human and technical resources envisaged for the execution of the work
• the last three balance sheets and accounts of the company
• the company's off-balance sheet commitments, guarantees and sureties granted by the company, a presentation of any pending litigation and the financial risks which may result for the company
• the guarantees and sureties from which your company benefits

Applicants of foreign nationality are required to designate a residential address in Belgium.

SELECTION CRITERIA

The Walloon government will make its decision based upon the following objective and non-discriminatory criteria:

• the technical and financial capabilities
• the operating schedule, that means the manner in which the applicant intends to prospect, explore or exploit the geographical area in question

If multiple applications are of equal merit, the following criteria will be evaluated:

• the quality of the preliminary studies carried out for the definition of the work schedule
• the effectiveness and competence demonstrated by the applicants in connection with any other permits, particularly with respect to environmental protection
• the possible proximity of an area already explored or exploited by the applicants
• the positive repercussions envisaged for the development of the Walloon Region and the technological activities on its territory

APPEAL

An appeal is possible before the Supreme Administrative Court of Belgium.

The conditions are detailed in the competition specifications.

In order to apply, you must, among other things:

• demonstrate your technical and financial capabilities
• have an administrative residence in Belgium/Wallonia

​WITHDRAWAL OF LICENCE

The permit will be withdrawn if the conditions governing it have not been respected.