[miningmx.com] – SOUTH African mines minister, Susan Shabangu, said her government and the mining sector were close to agreeing final terms for changes to the Minerals & Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA).
Delivering a keynote address at the annual general meeting of the Chamber of Mines, Shabangu said: “There are few issues outstanding in amendment bill, but I am positive that we will find each other.
“We are very close to each other. There is a lot of good will and we are all committed to find a lasting solution in the MPRDA,” she said, adding that the media should not project the industry as being “miles apart”.
“We are a family,” said Shabangu to applause.
Mark Cutifani, outgoing president of the chamber agreed that there could be agreement in the MPRDA amendment bill.
“We’ve probably navigated 80% of the toughest position in MPRDA,” said Cutifani. “There is still some hard stuff to go, but given the will and constructive spirit, I’m sure we’ll get there,” said Cutifani.
“I am encouraged by the constructive engagements between the Department of Mineral Resources and the Chamber of Mines on the proposed amendments,” he said.
“Whilst there are still some key issues to be resolved, I truly believe that we are almost there – and that we will find a way to achieve the right outcomes – that put South Africa first,” he said.
One of the bones of contention regarding the amendments is adjustments to Section 26 which deals with beneficiation. According to the amendments, the DMR wants regulations to the act to allow the mines minister to declare certain minerals strategic and designated. Once declared strategic, the minister would have the ability to impose price and volume restrictions on exports of minerals such as coal.
However, Enoch Godongwana, chairperson of the ANC’s economic transformation committee, said last week that the government did not intend to influence the prices of exports. “We can’t define in prices. That part of discussion is misplaced. So for Section 26, there will not be a formulation about price,” said Godongwana.
