It is reported that a member of parliament's portfolio committee on mineral resources has poured cold water on expectations that amendments to the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act would be passed by the legislative assembly before the end of 2012. She also warned that the revised mining charter of 2010 shouldn't be regarded as a finished product.

ANC MP Ms Faith Bikani said that mining legislation wouldn't be ratified prior to the ANC’s elective conference scheduled for December. The ruling party's policy conference last week accepted the proposals contained in the State Intervention in the Mining Sector document, which, among other issues, calls for a resource rent tax, a mining super ministry as well as the classification of strategic minerals. These proposals are to be discussed by ANC branches and formulated as policy proposals for the December 2012 conference in Mangaung.

Ms Bikani, who was speaking at the latest Mining for Change seminar in Johannesburg, said that parliament was still conducting public hearings on the charter and that it wouldn't be bound by a deadline. She added that "It is still being refined and it still needs more input. We would rather take our time than rushing towards a policy document that is not benefiting our future."

She said parliament would have to take the ANC's decisions related to the Sims report into consideration. She added that "That document has to be refined and discussed at ANC branch level, especially those in the mining communities. Their input is just as important for us in parliament."

Mr Susan Shabangu minister of mineral resources told Miningmx in May 2012 that the proposed amendments to the MPRDA would be submitted to Cabinet in July 2012 at the latest, with the subsequent parliamentary process to be completed before year end. He added that "We'll go on to do our work as government. We are confident we won't see many changes in lieu of the Sims report."

Ms Bikani, however, said that parliament would probably only be able to ratify changes to the MPRDA in 2013. Shabangu first announced the revision of the act in the third quarter to 2010, a process that was initially scheduled for completion in 2011.

Source - Miningmx

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