Mantashe urges prioritisation of MPRDA Bill

MINERAL Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe hasurged the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) to prioritise the finalisation of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Amendment (MPRDA) Bill.

The NCOP is processing the MPRDA Bill, which will usher regulatory certainty in mining.

Delivering his budget vote speech at the NCOP yesterday, Mantashe said the finalisation of the bill would make South Africa an investment destination of choice for mining and upstream petroleum.

“We appeal to members of this House to assist in prioritising the finalisation of this bill. This is important, because together with the gazetting of the Mining Charter, enacting it will go a long way to contributing to policy and regulatory certainty.

“Such certainty will lead to increased confidence in our mining sector, resulting in growth, transformation and competitiveness,” he said.

The department recently finalised consultations in all provinces on the Mining Charter.

Mantashe said that prior to the presentation of the draft charter and its gazetting, the department would host a summit on the charter.

Mineral Resources Deputy Minister Godfrey Oliphant said the summit would be held before the end of this month.

He said the department had prioritised “proper” processing of applications for mining licences.

“A preliminary internal investigation shows that the backlog on new mineral right applications stretches as far back as 2012, while applications for renewal of prospecting right applications go as far back as 2010.

“The implication of unprocessed renewal applications is that it blocks any other party from applying for a mining right in that area,” said Mantashe.

He was concerned about the deteriorating health and safety record of the mining industry. Since the beginning of this year, 33 fatalities had been reported, he said.

“Together with the Mine Health and Safety Council, the Council for Geoscience, the CSIR, organised labour, employers as well as industry experts in rock engineering and seismology, the department is paying special attention into the issue of seismicity,” said Mantashe.