Royal Decrees: Public Authority for Mining established in Oman

His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said.

Muscat: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has issued four Royal Decrees as follows:

Royal Decree No. 49/2014 establishes the Public Authority for Mining and promulgates its system (law).

Article (1) states that a public authority shall be established under the name "Public Authority for Mining" and that it shall be affiliated to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Article (2) stipulates that the Public Authority for Mining shall be a legal entity that enjoys FINANCIAL and administrative autonomy and that the Authority shall have the power and eligibility to own, manage and dispense fixed and moveable funds. It shall be governed by the system (law) attached to this Decree.

Article (3) states that the Public Authority for Mining shall be based in the Governorate of Muscat and that the Authority may open branches in other governorates of the Sultanate following a decision by its board of directors.

Article (4) states that the Chairman of Board of Directors of the Public Authority for Mining shall issue the regulations and decisions necessary for the implementation of the provisions of the attached system after these are approved by the board of directors.

The Authority shall be governed by the laws and Royal Decrees applicable to units of the State's Administrative Apparatus in cases where it is not clearly stated in the clauses of the Authority's system or the regulations or decisions issued to enforce it.

Article (5) stipulates that the powers and prerogatives, allocations and assets of the Directorate General of Mining at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry shall be transferred to the Public Authority for Mining.

The employees of that Directorate General shall be also transferred to the Public Authority for Mining with their current financial grades.

The functionality of execution of the said transfers shall be effected in accordance with the mechanism to be agreed by the Minister of Commerce and Industry and the Chief Executive Officer of the Public Authority for Mining.

Article (6) cancels all that contravenes this Decree or its attached system or contradicts their provisions.

Article (7) The Decree shall be published in the gazette and it shall take effect on its date of issue.

Issued on September 21, 2014.

Royal Decree No. 50/2014 establishes the Jabal Qahwan Nature Reserve in the Governorate of South Sharqiyah.

Article (1) states that a natural sanctuary under the name "Jabal Qahwan Nature Reserve in the Governorate of South Sharqiyah" shall be established and it shall be allocated an area whose dimensions are specified in the Annex and Map attached to the Decree.

Article (2) instructs the Minister of Environment and Climate Affairs to issue bylaws, regulations and decisions necessary for the implementation of this Decree in coordination with the Ministries and other departments concerned-provided that these regulations and decisions include the method of management of the nature reserve and rules organising access to it, the prescribed fees set for that, timing of visits, the tasks that are permissible to be undertaken, the activities that are prohibited at the sanctuary and the appropriate penalties in each case of violation.

Article (3) This Decree shall be published in the gazette and it shall be enforced on the day following its date of publishing in the gazette.

Issued on September 21, 2014.

Royal Decree No. 51/2014 established the Wetlands Nature Reserve in the Governorate of Dhofar.

Article (1) states that a natural sanctuary under the name "Wetlands Nature Reserve in the Governorate of Dhofar" shall be established and that it shall be allocated an area whose dimensions are specified in the Annex and Map attached to the Decree.

Article (2) instructs the Minister of Environment and Climate Affairs to issue bylaws, regulations and decisions necessary for the implementation of this Decree in coordination with the Ministries and other departments concerned-provided that these regulations and decisions include the method of management of the nature reserve and rules organising access to it, the prescribed fees set for that, timing of visits, the tasks that are permissible to be undertaken, the activities that are prohibited at the sanctuary and the appropriate penalties in each case of violation.

Article (3) This Decree shall be published in the gazette and it shall be enforced on the day following its date of publishing in the gazette.

Issued on September 21, 2014.

Royal Decree No. 52/2014 appoints judges at the Supreme Court.

Article (1) states that people listed here shall be appointed as judges at the Supreme Court: Said bin Sulaiman bin Said Al Maskari, Dr Sultan bin Hamad bin Salim Al Siyabi, Nasser bin Salim bin Ahmed Al Jabri, Salim bin Mansoor bin Ali Al Hashmi and Sultan bin Majid bin Khalfan Al Za'abi.

Article (2) states that the Decree shall be published in the gazette and that it shall take effect on its date of issue.

Issued on September 21, 2014.