The Government of Bhutan has identified the mining sector as one of the five jewels of the economy, highlighting its potential to significantly drive the country’s economic development. As an IGF member, the government requested an assessment and this resulting report to identify key gaps and recommendations to strengthen mining governance in the country.
This report presents an assessment of Bhutan’s readiness and capacity to implement the IGF's Mining Policy Framework (MPF). This assessment involved an extensive desk-based review of key domestic and international laws and policies and a week-long field visit to Bhutan. During this field visit, the project team met with a broad array of stakeholders from government, civil society, academia, international organizations, and the private sector to discuss Bhutan’s mining laws and policies.
Recommendations include revising key mining laws and policies in Bhutan to elevate its standards to international good practices and reflect its current priorities for the mining sector. Specifically, Bhutan should consider revising its laws, policies, and regulations to support post-mining transitions, require community consultations, and deepen local content policies.
