Thimphu: Bhutan’s long-pending Mines and Minerals Management Bill is set to return to Parliament during the upcoming winter session, more than five years after the legislation was deferred without a final vote. The move has revived debate over the country’s mineral governance framework and the constitutional questions surrounding the earlier deferment.
The Department of Geology and Mines (DGM) has submitted a revised Mines and Minerals Management Bill of Bhutan 2026 to the Cabinet. The proposed legislation is intended to replace the nearly three-decade-old Mines and Minerals Management Act of 1995, which officials and stakeholders consider outdated for Bhutan’s current economic and technological environment.
Focus on Strategic Minerals and Investment
According to the DGM, the revised Bill places greater emphasis on strategic mineral development, investment security, value addition, environmental protection and equitable sharing of socioeconomic benefits. The draft also draws on Bhutan’s Mineral Development Policy 2017, Mineral Exploration Guidelines 2023 and Mines and Minerals Management Regulations 2022.
The legislation comes at a time when Bhutan is seeking to strengthen the management of its natural resources while balancing economic development with environmental sustainability. The country’s Constitution states that mineral resources are the property of the State and must be regulated by law.
Questions Over Earlier Deferment
The original Mines and Minerals Bill was discussed in Parliament in 2021 but was deferred after a joint committee failed to reach consensus. The decision has remained controversial because constitutional provisions appear to envisage further deliberation and voting on bills rather than indefinite deferment.
The DGM has rejected suggestions that the earlier deferment was intended to permanently bury the legislation. It says the intervening period was used to strengthen regulations, consult stakeholders and prepare a more comprehensive framework.
Balancing Growth and Public Interest
The new Bill is expected to address longstanding concerns surrounding transparency, mining regulation, environmental safeguards, community interests and the distribution of benefits from Bhutan’s mineral wealth.
The return of the legislation to Parliament could therefore mark an important step in modernising Bhutan’s mining sector. However, the proposed law will also face scrutiny over how effectively it balances private investment, state ownership, environmental protection and the long-term interests of Bhutanese citizens.