Friday, August 23, 2024, Engineer Raphaël Hosty, Minister of Public Works, accompanied by three members of his Cabinet, met with Engineer Claude Prépetit, Director General of the Bureau of Mines and Energy (BME), as well as members of the institution's Board of Directors.

This meeting was an opportunity for Engineer Prépetit to present a detailed picture of the Haitian mining sector, highlighting its potential as an engine of economic growth. He stressed the importance of respecting the environment and taking into account the needs of local communities. Although the country does not have any active mines to date, the sector remains relevant thanks to the various exploration projects underway and the exploitation of non-metallic minerals.

The Director General of the BME also drew up a critical inventory of the legislative framework in force, the Mining Law of 1976 and the Quarries Law of 1984 which are outdated, these texts, although still in force, have never allowed the opening of a mining operation in Haiti, due to their complexity and their shortcomings, particularly in terms of environmental protection, moreover the tax laws related to this sector do not exist.

It is necessary to put in place measures to attract investors to Haiti. Viable infrastructure is needed so that investors feel comfortable. Recalling that the studies on the potential of Haiti's mines date back to the 80s but have not been completed for cost reasons... In summary, today, "the operating conditions are not met".

Despite the mining potential, the BME faces many difficulties, particularly in terms of human, material and financial resources. For the 2023-2024 fiscal year, the institution has a budget of 100 million Gourdes, or barely 0.03% of the national budget. An amount that is largely insufficient to cover the needs of the BME, which seriously hinders its intervention and development capacities.

To overcome this insufficiency, Engineer Preptit requested the support of the MTPTC in order to advocate for a significant increase in the BME's investment budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, bringing it to 300 million Gourdes. This request, considered essential for institutional strengthening and the modernization of the sector, was listened to attentively by Minister Hosty. The latter also instructed his Technical Cabinet to closely monitor this matter, emphasizing the importance of providing the BME with the necessary means to accomplish its mission.

This visit highlighted not only the challenges facing the mining sector in Haiti, but also the efforts made by the BME to transform it into a lever for sustainable development.

Thumbnail image : On the left, Engineer Claude Prépetit, on the right, Engineer Raphaël Hosty, Minister of Public Works,

HL/ HaitiLibre