South Africa: Revamping the Mineral Resources Bill
'The regulatory environment must be conducive to encouraging investment in exploration, mine development and sustain(ing) existing mining operations so that the industry can grow, create jobs and generate the wealth it is capable of delivering for the benefit of all South Africans,' says Mzila Mthenjane, CEO of the Minerals Council.
'Our key point of departure in engagements with the department is to have pragmatic conversations that address elements of the Bill that discourage investment and growth of the industry, which we all agree has untapped potential that is not being realised,' he says.
Eliminating ambiguity
It's crucial to the Minerals Council that the Bill creates certainty, predictability and a competitive regulatory environment, while eliminating ambiguity in what will become the Act to ensure we build on the successes we have had to date.
The Minerals Council indicated that its members are committed to the transformation of the industry, which can be further broadened by a flourishing mining sector, creating new opportunities for all role players and newcomers.
The Minerals Council has no objection to the inclusion of artisanal mining in the Bill, provided it can be done in an environmentally responsible, safe and healthy manner, with clear, identifiable obligations and responsibilities attributable to artisanal mining.
Thus, the Minerals Council is advocating for a fit-for-purpose regulatory framework for artisanal mining.
'We welcome the criminalisation of illegal mining in the Bill, which addresses the long-held concerns of the Minerals Council.
'We have made recommendations for more effective penalties to be imposed to serve as a deterrent in the long run.
'In addition, the streamlining of the appeals process is positive,' said the council in a statement.
Encouraging investment
The Minerals Council says that its overarching concern with the Bill is that, in its current form, it does not encourage investment in the industry for growth.
It adds that the Bill's reliance on regulations that have yet to be published for public scrutiny makes it impossible to fully engage the DMPR in detail on key elements of the Bill.
In its engagement with the DMPR, the council will focus on key elements of the Bill, including the beneficiation, empowerment, tailings, and mine closure provisions, which rely heavily on unpublished regulations and, in their current form, are potentially disruptive to mining operations and potential investment.
The council believes that the government must look at incentivising beneficiation, developing transport and water infrastructure and cost-competitive electricity rather than imposing prescriptive obligations and penalising non-compliance with the Act and its regulations.
It has also stressed that the Bill must build on successes achieved in transformation and empowerment in the industry.
The mining industry has significantly transformed, a point that Minister Gwede Mantashe has repeatedly noted on public platforms, stating that mining is one of the most transformed sectors in the economy.
The Minerals Council said that it is looking forward to the engagement with the DMPR, and it will play its role in enabling the process to run its course to develop an optimal regulatory framework to grow and sustain the mining industry for the benefit of all stakeholders.
All rights reserved. © 2022. Bizcommunity.com Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
2 hours ago
- Zawya
Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9): African Development Bank to focus on partnerships and investment at 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development
The African Development Bank ( will participate in the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) ( taking place in Yokohama, Japan from 20-22 August. This year's conference takes place at a critical time as Africa seeks to close investment gaps and build resilience to global economic and climate shocks. The African Development Bank stands as a key driver of this transformation for the continent, leveraging its leadership to mobilise international support, particularly from Japan. Co-hosted by United Nations, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), The World Bank and African Union Commission (AUC), TICAD has been running for more than three decades since the first conference, TICAD I, in 1993. The forum has proved itself a solid catalyst to Africa's development agenda, mainly through grant aid and technical assistance. Among the delegates from the African Development Bank attending the conference are Kevin Kariuki, Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth; Solomon Quaynor, Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure, Industrialisation; Nnenna Nwabufo, Vice President for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery; Kevin Urama, Chief Economist and Vice President for Economic Governance&Knowledge Management, and several directors. Over the years, the African Development Bank's collaboration with Japan through TICAD, has evolved into a dynamic platform for development finance, knowledge exchange, and private sector engagement. Through programmes like the Enhanced Private Sector Assistance (EPSA) initiative, Japan's support to the Bank has resulted in billions in co-financing for African businesses and infrastructure as well as important support to capital replenishment. In addition, strategic partnerships with Japanese agencies such as Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI), continue to advance the Bank's High 5 development goals. These partnerships have supported transformative projects in energy, transport, health, and climate resilience across the continent. Enhanced Private Sector Assistance for Africa (EPSA) The Enhanced Private Sector Assistance for Africa or EPSA ( Initiative, is a framework for resource mobilization and development partnership to support the implementation of the Bank's Strategy for Private Sector Development. Drawing on successful development experience in Asia and around the globe, EPSA, which was conceived in partnership with the Government of Japan in 2005, consists of four main pillars: (1) Accelerated Co-financing Facility for Africa (ACFA), (2) Non-Sovereign Loans (NSL), (3) Fund for African Private Sector Assistance (FAPA), and (4) Private sector investment finance. An extension of the agreement - EPSA6 - is expected to be signed during TICAD9. Recognizing the private sector's importance in African development, the African Development Bank will host side events to encourage Japanese investment in key areas such as green hydrogen, Mission 300 ( transportation, health, agriculture, and education. The Africa Investment Forum ( a partnership of the African Development Bank and eight other institutions will also be promoted as an innovative investment marketplace for attracting capital for projects on the continent. During the Forum's Market Days held in December 2024 in Morocco, a special event raised awareness about Africa as an investment destination for Japanese investors. The Japan Special Room titled: 'Agricultural Innovation&Green Growth: Transforming Africa's Investment Landscape' was organized with approximately 100 participants, including representatives from Japanese companies, startups, and other public institutions. Accessing Resilient Energy for Africa On Tuesday, a day before the official opening of TICAD9, an event organized by JICA and other partners highlighted one of the continent's major challenges - the energy gap in Africa. Over 200 representatives from government, ministers and development partners attended the ' Harnessing Innovation, Co-creation, and Knowledge for Accessible and Resilient Energy for Africa," event, which was held in person and online. Without energy, the bedrock of infrastructure for crucial development cannot be realized. Yet persistent underinvestment in energy infrastructure is one of the continent's major hurdles, African Development Bank Director of Energy Financial Solutions, Policy and Regulation Department Wale Shonibare, who moderated the session said. Setting the stage for the conversation, he said Africa's 600 million people without access to reliable energy represent 83% of people with energy access lack globally affecting 2 out of 3 Africans. A further 900 million have no access to clean cooking, while Nigeria DRC, Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania together have half the population of no access, Shonibare said. Stressing the significance of TICAD as a platform to provide innovation and solutions through partnerships and investment, he noted: 'We see enormous potential in Africa's regional power pools…Today's session is both timely and catalytic.' The African Development Bank will organize several sessions covering a range of key development topics during the TICAD. Among these, two flagship events will be co-hosted in partnership with the Ministry of Finance. Further details on these events can be found below. High-Level Policy Dialogue: Harnessing the Potential of Africa (Link) ( Date: Thursday, 21 August Time: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM (Tokyo time) Venue: S-01, Hall D, PACIFICO Yokohama&Zoom High-Level Business Session: Emerging Partnership between Japan and Africa (Link) ( Date: Thursday, 21 August Time: 12:40 PM - 2:10 PM (Tokyo time) Venue: S-01, Hall D, PACIFICO Yokohama&Zoom ( Learn more about the TICAD9 conference here ( Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB). Contact: Amba Mpoke-Bigg Communication and External Relations Department email: media@ Yuna Choi email: About the African Development Bank Group: The African Development Bank Group is Africa's premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information:
Zawya
4 hours ago
- Zawya
Egypt, Japan sign 12 investment agreements covering strategic sectors
Egypt and Japan have signed 12 agreements and letters of intent in various strategic sectors during the Egyptian-Japanese Investment Forum, held on August 18th, in Yokohama, in the presence of Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, as per a statement. The agreements, announced on the sidelines of Madbouly's participation in the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), aim to boost bilateral investment, deepen local production, and enhance supply chains, exports, and trade with neighboring markets. The agreements covered sectors such as education, renewable energy, industry, infrastructure, tourism, logistics, and information technology. Among the most notable deals was an agreement between the Ministry of Education and Technical Education and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to cooperate on technical and vocational education, alongside a separate partnership with Casio Middle East to support mathematics teaching. Additional agreements were signed with Yamaha Corporation to enhance music education in 100 schools and with Japanese company SPRIX to develop math and IT curricula modeled on the Japanese system. In the energy sector, the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone), Itochu Corporation, and Orascom Construction agreed to develop green fueling facilities for ammonia-powered ships, while the authority also signed with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to cooperate on green hydrogen projects. Toyota Tsusho Corporation signed two agreements: one with Egypt's Ministries of Industry and Investment to localize automotive manufacturing and another with the Egyptian-Japanese University of Science and Technology to support scholarship programs. Other agreements included partnerships in tourism and hospitality training, technology transfer, research and development, and manufacturing of electronics and visual devices. © 2025 All Rights Reserved Arab Finance For Information Technology Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
7 hours ago
- Zawya
South Africa: Revamping the Mineral Resources Bill
In order to make sure that the Mineral Resources Development Bill (MRDP) encourages investment, industry growth, and job creation in South Africa, the Minerals Council South Africa has stated that it will work closely with the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR). Public comment on the draft Bill closed on 13 August 2025. 'The regulatory environment must be conducive to encouraging investment in exploration, mine development and sustain(ing) existing mining operations so that the industry can grow, create jobs and generate the wealth it is capable of delivering for the benefit of all South Africans,' says Mzila Mthenjane, CEO of the Minerals Council. 'Our key point of departure in engagements with the department is to have pragmatic conversations that address elements of the Bill that discourage investment and growth of the industry, which we all agree has untapped potential that is not being realised,' he says. Eliminating ambiguity It's crucial to the Minerals Council that the Bill creates certainty, predictability and a competitive regulatory environment, while eliminating ambiguity in what will become the Act to ensure we build on the successes we have had to date. The Minerals Council indicated that its members are committed to the transformation of the industry, which can be further broadened by a flourishing mining sector, creating new opportunities for all role players and newcomers. The Minerals Council has no objection to the inclusion of artisanal mining in the Bill, provided it can be done in an environmentally responsible, safe and healthy manner, with clear, identifiable obligations and responsibilities attributable to artisanal mining. Thus, the Minerals Council is advocating for a fit-for-purpose regulatory framework for artisanal mining. 'We welcome the criminalisation of illegal mining in the Bill, which addresses the long-held concerns of the Minerals Council. 'We have made recommendations for more effective penalties to be imposed to serve as a deterrent in the long run. 'In addition, the streamlining of the appeals process is positive,' said the council in a statement. Encouraging investment The Minerals Council says that its overarching concern with the Bill is that, in its current form, it does not encourage investment in the industry for growth. It adds that the Bill's reliance on regulations that have yet to be published for public scrutiny makes it impossible to fully engage the DMPR in detail on key elements of the Bill. In its engagement with the DMPR, the council will focus on key elements of the Bill, including the beneficiation, empowerment, tailings, and mine closure provisions, which rely heavily on unpublished regulations and, in their current form, are potentially disruptive to mining operations and potential investment. The council believes that the government must look at incentivising beneficiation, developing transport and water infrastructure and cost-competitive electricity rather than imposing prescriptive obligations and penalising non-compliance with the Act and its regulations. It has also stressed that the Bill must build on successes achieved in transformation and empowerment in the industry. The mining industry has significantly transformed, a point that Minister Gwede Mantashe has repeatedly noted on public platforms, stating that mining is one of the most transformed sectors in the economy. The Minerals Council said that it is looking forward to the engagement with the DMPR, and it will play its role in enabling the process to run its course to develop an optimal regulatory framework to grow and sustain the mining industry for the benefit of all stakeholders. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
