Minerals Council backs Bill’s demise

The Minerals Council South Africa says the announcement by Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe that he plans to propose to Cabinet the scrapping of the Bill drafted to amend the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) “appears to be sensible”.

On Wednesday, Mantashe announced during parliament’s mineral resources portfolio com- mittee meeting that government will withdraw the controversial MPRDA Bill.

The mining industry was concerned about the proposals in the Bill which left important aspects of regulations to be promulgated by the minister, especially the one requiring mining companies intending to export minerals to apply for consent from the minister, and for regulating mining house operations in one piece of legislation.

The Minerals Council said: “There remain a number of constitutional concerns, substantive and procedural, which are unresolved. Constitutional challenges, which were threatened by a range of interested parties, would have meant continuing uncertainty for the industry as these went through the courts.” – ANA