GAF AG Supports Mineral Sector in Namibia

More than ten years ago, GAF AG developed and implemented a Computerised Title Management System (CTMS) for the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) in Namibia. Since then the system is operational and serving the needs of mineral title management of the MME. Recently GAF has performed an update and migration of the system to a new state-of-the art IT environment.

The Ministry of Mines and Energy, as the custodian of Namibia's mineral and energy resources, facilitates and regulates the responsible development and sustainable utilization of these resources. To help promoting investment in the mineral sector in Namibia and providing a professional and customer focused service, GAF AG was awarded a consulting service contract funded by the European Development Fund (EU) under its SYSMIN programme in 1996.

At that time GAF AG developed and installed a stable, easy-to-use, comprehensive and intelligible computerized system for the management of mineral titles (CTMS). This system covers all transactions throughout the lifetime of a mineral title - including all relevant spatial information in a GIS. Title information can be archived and updated, and all required documents are generated by the system. Planning tools, list generators and check routines greatly improve automated title management. Geographic information on the titles, as well as related topics like geology and administrative boundaries, are fully integrated and can be visualized, queried and printed in the form of a map.

Since then the system is operationally in use, with ongoing maintenance and continuous support by GAF. The system contains a complete database of Namibia including title holders' information, payments, reimbursements and all in all more than 11.000 titles. The CTMS has functioned without failure since its installation in 1996.

It has significantly sped up the management of mineral titles and greatly facilitates the work of the mining commissioner and his staff. The integration of geographical and attribute data, as well as the ability to follow the requirements and procedures of the Minerals (Prospecting and Mining) Act of 1992, has greatly contributed to the success of the system.

In October 2006, GAF AG has updated and migrated the Computerized Title Management System to the latest hardware and software technologies. This activity is fully financed by MME and is another proof of a stable and long-lasting relationship.