Public comment ignored in draft mining law - lawyers
The latest amendments to mining laws were made public last week, leaving the sector underwhelmed with the Minister's retention of a large degree of discretion over parts of the rules' implementation, says a Business Day report.
The amendments contained in a Bill gazetted last month are intended to remove ambiguities in the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act. The changes courted controversy when they were first unveiled last December, notes the report. They gave the Minister considerable discretion in controlling beneficiation and the ability to list certain minerals as strategic resources. The report adds it appears many of those concerns remain in the current Bill. 'Although the Department of Mineral Resources received more than 70 submissions on the original draft Bill, it is apparent that the majority of these concerns have been ignored,' Jonathan Veeran, of Webber Wentzel, is quoted as saying. Full Business Day report (subscription needed) Draft Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Amendment Bill (PDF file)