The Department of Mines and Geology (DMG) has granted permission to 156 mining companies to extract minerals in Nepal.

According to information provided by the DMG, these mining companies have been approved for extraction following research and exploration of minerals across the country.

Jayraj Ghimire, head of the Mineral Resources Division, stated that the department has granted permission for 156 mining companies of 17 different types to extract minerals under the Mining and Minerals Act of 2042 BS and the Mining and Minerals Rules of 2056 BS.

According to him, the department has issued permits to three companies to extract turmaline, thirteen companies to extract talc, two companies to extract quartz, five companies to extract kyanite, one company to extract marble, two companies to extract red oxide, one company to extract Iron, one company to extract zinc, thirteen companies to extract quartzite, two companies to extract magnesite, three companies to extract dolomite and two companies to extract copper.

Ghimire said that there have been many applications for limestone mining recently and accordingly 96 mining companies have been granted permission to extract limestone. Recently, cement produced in Nepal has also been exported to various countries.

“The mining of limestone, an important raw material for cement, has increased due to a high demand for cement for the construction of new infrastructures,” he said.

The department has also been revoking permits of several companies that failed to commence mining operations promptly.