[miningmx.com] — PROPOSED changes to the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) wouldn’t come into law before end-2012, Mines Minister Susan Shabangu said on Monday.
Shabangu was responding in a written reply to the Democratic Alliance’s Pierre Rabie on the anticipated schedule for the tabling and passing of the legislation.
“The envisaged time frame for tabling the MPRDA amendments to parliament is during the last quarter of (the) 2012 legislative program,’ said Shabangu. “Challenges relating to the transfer of rights and streamlining of the licensing process are dealt with in detail in the proposed draft amendment bill.’
Shabangu initiated the amendment process in September 2010, following some high profile cases involving the double granting of rights and disputes concerning related minerals. The fallout which led to the High Court case over a disputed 21.4% mineral right in Kumba Iron Ore’s Sishen mine has also highlighted ambiguities in the law which Shabangu said would be addressed.
She initially told journalists at the Mining Indaba in February all changes would’ve been passed this year.
Shabangu and other officials of the department of mineral resources have since indicated the proposed law changes would also allow for an single licensing system – incorporating applications for water usage and environmental permits – as well as the partitioning of mineral rights.
The revised MPRDA would, in addition, make provision for the state’s newly adopted beneficiation strategy.
Also, should parliament only debate on the proposed changes to the Act after June, it could allow for proposals made at the ANC’s policy conference, where the governing party is expected to adopt policy stemming from its investigation into nationalisation and the state’s involvement in the industry.
MINE SAFETY
In reply to a separate question from the ANC’s Faith Bikani on workplace fatalities, Shabangu said 112 people have died at mines, as of November 7 since the beginning of the year. Over the same period in 2010, 113 workplace fatalities were recorded.
The 127 fatalities in total that occurred in 2010 were the lowest ever recorded by the industry.
“The Health and Safety Act and regulations are currently being reviewed to strengthen the legislation in addressing health and safety issues and minimum compliance standards will be included,’ she said.
