Question NW960 to the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy
01 April 2021 - NW960
Lorimer, Mr JR to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy
Whether it is the official position of his department that applicants for mineral prospecting rights have to fulfil Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment requirements for mineral prospecting rights to be granted, as indicated in the presentation before the Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy on 3 March 2021; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
Section 17(4) of the MPRDA (as amended) provides that the Minister may, having regard to the type of mineral concerned and the extent of the proposed prospecting project, request the applicant to give effect to the provisions of section 2(d) of the Act, by substantially and meaningfully expanding opportunities to Historical Disadvantaged South Africans to benefit from the exploitation of the nations mineral and petroleum resources development.