Question NW1124 to the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy
12 April 2023 - NW1124
Msimang, Prof CT to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy
Whether, considering that it was reported in 2019 that his department set a five-year target of capturing up to 5% of world exploration spend, whilst at the time the Republic had attracted just over 1% of world spend which reportedly sank to 0,8% last year, his department has any plans towards reaching the specified goal; if not, why not; if so, what (a) steps will his department take towards easing explorations in the Republic and (b) are the relevant details in this regard?
Reply:
(a) & (b) During this time government adopted an exploration strategy together with its implementation plan and augmented the funding for Council for Geoscience (CGS) to focus primarily on geo-mapping to support exploration. The CGS has now accelerated its mapping programme and launched a data portal to increase the efficacy of data access to all.