QUETTA Tethyan Copper Company (TCC) has termed the refusal for mining licence by the Balochistan Government as a breach of Mining Rules and its rights. In a statement issued here Friday the Chief Executive Officer of TCC Mr. Tim Livesey TCC had submitted the application for a mining lease to cover an area of EL5 in February 2011, following the submission of the Feasibility Study in August 2010. The Government of Balochistan (GOB) had not responded to requests for meetings to resolve the issue, and the Rejection Notice compromises TCCs preferred route of resolution by negotiation. The Rejection Notice does not address the detailed submissions in TCCs interim response nor does it address the original grounds set forth in the 21st September Notice he added. The CEO of company said that the Licensing Authoritys summary refusal to grant the Mining License to which TCC was entitled breaches not only the Balochistan Mineral Rules (2002), but also TCCs rights under the Chagai Hills Exploration Joint Venture Agreement (CHEJVA) and Pakistani law. He said, TCC strongly believes that the Reko Diq project can contribute significantly to the development of a modern, transparent mining industry in Balochistan, contributing to the local and greater Pakistani economy through large foreign direct investment and through the benefits of ongoing revenue generation and local reinvestment during the mines expected 56 year life. We firmly believe that our activities to date have been fully in line with the Balochistan Mineral Rules (2002) and would welcome the opportunity to discuss this with the Provincial regulator and government he said, and adding that a project of this type had the potential to kick start the mining sector in Balochistan and would act as a working practise catalyst for further investment in exploration and mining by independent parties. He said that Tethyan was committed to develop its mine at Reko Diq in line with international best practice with respect to the environment, labour, health and safety. It may be mentioned here that Balochistan Government had turned down the application of Tathyan Copper Company (TTC) for mining license for Reko Diq project in Chagai district of Balochistan two days ago. Mining Committee headed by Director General Mines and Mineral Department Balochistan had examined the feasibility report of TCC and rejected the application under Balochistan Mines Rule 2002.