The Subsoil Use Committee met with representatives of Geoinform Ukraine

*Source: The Subsoil Use Committee of the European Business Association

This week, representatives of the EBA Subsoil Use Committee met with representatives of State research and development enterprise “State Information Geological Fund of Ukraine“ (SRDE GEOINFORM UKRAINE).

In particular, the online meeting was attended by Pavlo Bovsunivskyi, Acting Director of the SRDE “State Information Geological Fund of Ukraine“ and Ihor Melnyk, Director of the Center for Geoinformation Technologies.

On the meeting were discussed topical issues related to the coordinates of subsoil plots provided for use, the functionality of the subsoil user’s electronic cabinet, as well as the services provided by SRDE GEOINFORM UKRAINE.

Most of the questions raised by the Committee members at the meeting were related to the transition from the SK-42 coordinate system to the international WGS-84 system. The advantages of the new coordinate system are obvious, as the ability to determine corner points without expensive equipment with an accuracy of several meters is a big step forward.

At the same time, many subsoil users have problems with the intersection/overlap of contours of adjacent deposits and/or special permits during the iterative recalculation of coordinates, which results in the loss of mineral reserves for which they have already paid or the area of the subsoil plot.

Thus, SRDE GEOINFORM UKRAINE iteratively recalculated the corner points of subsoil plots into the WGS-84 coordinate system for about 90% of special permits and confirmed the presence of not only intersections of the contours of special permits, but also the discrepancy between the actual location of the subsoil use object and the coordinates specified in the permits.

To resolve this problematic situation, Mr. Bovsunivskyi recommends applying for a service to determine the corner points of the subsoil use object, during which the contour of the special permit will be put into the contour of the calculation of reserves, the field and will correspond to reality. Unfortunately, there is no universal approach to solving this problem, but the specialists of the SRDE GEOINFORM UKRAINE can offer an optimal solution to the problem.

In addition, the problem that subsoil users often had with the impossibility of submitting an interim report for storage to the funds of the SRDE GEOINFORM UKRAINE because it does not comply with the 3-gr form can also be solved by transferring the interim report for temporary storage to the funds (up to 5 years) as part of paid services.

Regarding the technical problems faced by users of the Subsoil User’s Electronic Cabinet when submitting applications for special permits, in particular, the disappearance of applications and responses from the State Service of Geology and Mineral Resources regarding the review of a package of documents that are under consideration or have already been reviewed, the company also stated its readiness to respond to any technical failures as soon as possible when contacted by e-mail or telephone by the operator of the Subsoil User’s Electronic Cabinet.

Regarding the possibility of amending or extending special permits for geological exploration, including pilot development, which are not provided for by the Subsoil Code as of March 28, 2023, but continue to be valid until their expiration date. Mr. Bovsunivsky noted that technically such options are available in the Subsoil User’s Electronic Cabinet. At the same time, due to amendments to the legislation, namely the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine “On Approval of Forms of Special Permits for Subsoil Use, Limits of Economically Justified Terms of Work on Subsoil (Taking into Account Geological Features), Main Types of Work and Application Forms in the Field of Geological Exploration and Rational Use of Subsoil” №353 dated 18 April 2023, the decision to amend, extend or renew such special permits is made exclusively by the State Service of Geology and Mineral Resources.

During the meeting, Mr. Bovsunivskyi also shared information on the available services of the SRDE GEOINFORM UKRAINE, which can be used by subsoil users. Among them, in particular, are services for entering data on primary/secondary geological information into the catalog of geological information.

As a reminder, Geological Investment Group, as a member of the European Business Association, initiated the creation of the Subsoil Use Committee.

Thus, the EBA Subsoil Use Committee was established in 2022 to unite subsoil users, form a quality dialogue between all subsoil users and public authorities, exchange information and protect the interests of transparent business. The Committee currently unites 18 leading companies that extract minerals, act as professional advisors in the field of subsoil use, and share a common vision of turning the industry into an investment-attractive sector of Ukraine’s economy.  We must understand that the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine will require qualified specialists and we need to work actively on this now.