By: We are tech. Africa

Mauritania’s Ministry of Mines and Industry has launched a new digital platform to monitor and oversee mining and quarrying permits. The initiative is designed to increase transparency, ensure data reliability, and simplify administrative procedures for granting and supervising licenses.

The platform requires a secure login and allows permit holders to submit technical and production data, expense documents, and updates on their corporate social responsibility. Users can also file various administrative requests, such as sample submissions and approval applications.

The confidentiality of all data is protected under Article 59 of the mining law, which covers activity declarations, environmental, administrative, and financial monitoring, and the transfer of mandatory information. The ministry has instructed license holders to contact its regional offices or  email to get their login credentials and a user guide.

This platform arrives as Mauritania's e-governance is still developing. The country ranks 174th out of 193 in the United Nations Global E-Government Development Index with a score of 0.3491. This low ranking highlights a significant gap in digital infrastructure, access to online public services, and the use of technology within the government.

The digitalization of mining oversight is a key step for a sector that contributes about 23% to Mauritania's national GDP. It could improve transparency among stakeholders and make the country more attractive to investors. By centralizing data and streamlining communication between the government and operators, the platform provides a strategic tool for a more rigorous and modern regulation of Mauritania’s extractive activities.