Govt suspends issue of coal, CBM licences

On Wednesday, senior ministry officials said the moratorium would last until the roadmap was finalised - a development expected within six months. In the meantime, issuance of the country's most popular prospecting licences would be frozen. Said permanent secretary, Boikobo Paya, at a resources conference.

"We have engaged consultants to develop the study and produce a high level implementation plan. In the meantime, we have had to impose a moratorium on prospecting licences and this is to assist us develop a proper roadmap that we can share with the industry.