Subsoil Code (Law No. 406-Z). Country/Territory Belarus Document type Legislation Date 2008 Source FAO, FAOLEX Subject Mineral resources Keyword Basic legislation Governance Business/industry/corporations Mining Exploration Minerals Classification/declassification Concession Contract/agreement Data collection/reporting Access-to-information Geographical area CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), Eastern Europe, Europe, Europe and Central Asia Entry into force notes This Code enters into force on 1 January 2009. Abstract This Code governs relations arising from the geological study of subsoil, extraction of mineral resources, use and protection of other mineral resources, and is aimed at the creation and expansion of mineral resources bases, protection of interests of the state, rights and legal interests of subsoil users and other persons. The objects of relations in the field of use and protection of the subsoil shall be: (a) subsoil resources; (b) subsoil areas, including geological and mining allotments; (c) mining enterprises, separate mine workings; (d) geological information; (e) mineralogical, paleontological and other unique geological materials; and (f) subsoil use rights. Subsoil is the exclusive property of the state. The state implements its rights of ownership, use and disposal of mineral resources through the authorized state bodies. Subsoil cannot be the subject of pledge, purchase and sale, donation, inheritance, contribution to the authorized capital, as well as subject to alienation in a different form. Ownership of the extracted minerals belongs to the subsoil user who has mined them legally, unless otherwise established by legislative acts, a concession or investment agreement. The use and protection of subsoil should be based on the following principles: (a) completeness and complexity of the geological study of the subsoil; (b) rational use of subsoil and protection thereof; (c) rate setting of management and protection of subsoil; (d) payment for the use of subsoil, except as otherwise provided by this Code and other legislative acts; (e) ensuring safety of life and health of citizens, property of citizens, including individual entrepreneurs and legal entities, property owned by the state; and (f) prevention of hazardous impact on the environment. Subsoil shall be conceded in use for geological exploration for the period of up to five years, for mining for a maximum period of 50 years and, in case of transfer of subsoil plots in accordance with concession contract for a maximum period of 99 years. This Code contains XVII Chapters divided into 91 Articles. Chapter I lays down general provisions. Chapter II regards state governance and regulation in the field of subsoil management and protection. Chapter III establishes rights and duties of subsoil managers. Chapter IV classifies subsoil resources. Chapter V lays down general provisions related to subsoil management. Chapter VI regards concession of mining allotments, expropriation and concession of mining allotments for state needs and transfer of rights of subsoil management in case of re-organization of a legal entity. Chapter VII regards suspension and cessation of the right of subsoil management. Chapter VIII regards project documentation related to subsoil management and expertise thereof. Chapter IX regards exploration and transfer of data related to mineral deposits for mining. Chapter X regards exploitation of mineral deposits. Chapter XI regards geothermal resources of subsoil. Chapter XII regards subsoil areas. Chapter XIII regards rational management and protection of subsoil. Chapter XIV establishes safety requirements for subsoil management. Chapter XV regards geological information, state geological fund, state registration of subsoil and the state of mineral resources. Chapter XVI regards state supervision in the field of subsoil and safe subsoil management, and establishes liability for the infringement of legislation on subsoil. Chapter XVII lays down final provisions. Full text Russian Website pravo.by References - Legislation Repeals Subsoil Code, Law No. 103-Z of 1999. Legislation | Belarus | 1997 Keyword: Cadastre/land registration, Survey/mapping, Public land, Dispute settlement, Institution, Access-to-information, Exploration, Minerals, Mining Source: FAO, FAOLEX Implemented by Decree No. 4 of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection “On the procedure for developing mineral conditions and/or geothermal resources.” Legislation | Belarus | 2020 Keyword: Exploration, Mining, Minerals, Data collection/reporting, Access-to-information, Groundwater, Thermal and medicinal waters Source: FAO, FAOLEX