MUSCAT: Mohammed bin Salim al Toobi, Minister of Environment and Climate Affairs, has issued a ministerial decision regulating lumberjacking and charcoal export.
The decision bans the export of charcoal and firewood without a permit from the ministry. It also bans the practice of lumberjacking at the state properties and charcoal-making.
Licences for practicing lumberjacking will be given to citizens belonging to the social insurance segment as well as unemployed citizens above 30 years old and pensioners earning monthly pensions less than RO 350.
The licences will be granted depending on the availability of firewood at a certain area. The licence can be revoked by the concerned authority.
The charcoal-making licence will be given to citizens who have obtained lumberjack licence.
The regulation has specified the type duration of the licence and the permissible consignment as well as the fees. Fee amount of RO 5 will be imposed on a two-day personal lumberjack licence with a consignment not exceeding 1 tonne. A fee of RO 9 will be levied on a six-month licence with a maximum consignment of 48 tonnes. Violations of the regulations invoke a fine of not less than RO 200 and not more than RO 2,000.
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