Section 9: Competitive bidding.

(1) The Minister shall by regulations determine areas wherein an exploration licence and a mining lease shall be granted based on competitive bidding requirements.
(2) The Mining Cadastre Office shall consider competing bids and shall, through an open and transparent method, select the bid which will promote the expeditious and beneficial development of the Mineral Resources of the area having regard to-
(a) the programme of Exploration and Mining Operations which the applicant proposes to carry out and the commitments as regards expenditure which the applicant is prepared to make ;
(b) the financial and technical resources of the applicant; and
(c) the previous experience of the applicant in the conduct of Reconnaissance and Mining Operations.
(3) The successful application shall be treated as an application under sections 59 or 65.