[miningmx.com] — Johannesburg – South Africa will launch a new online mineral rights application system which aims to ensure transparency and end administrative blunders next week, the department of mineral resources said on Wednesday.
“The system (South African Mineral Resources Administration online system) for prospecting rights, mining permits and mining rights will go live on April 18 2011,” the department said on its website.
The mining ministry imposed a six-month halt on new prospecting bids last year to overhaul mining laws, iron out irregularities in the way rights are awarded and audit existing exploration and drilling contracts.
It said that all applications must be submitted electronically.
Mines Minister Susan Shabangu said in February that the online system would prevent different companies from being granted the same rights and stop licences from being handed out to areas deemed environmentally sensitive.
