https://www.miningweekly.com

Industry to focus on back-to-basics for new Mining Charter – Herbert Smith Freehills

Herbert Smith Freehills partner Peter Leon

Herbert Smith Freehills partner Peter Leon

Photo by Duane Daws

5th October 2017

By: Mia Breytenbach

Creamer Media Deputy Editor: Features

     

Font size: - +

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The South African mining industry has to focus on going back to basics and on why the Mining Charter was created when considering Mining Charter Three, Herbert Smith Freehills partner and Africa cochairperson Peter Leon said on Thursday.

Speaking during a panel discussion that highlighted ways mining companies could manage the unpredictable regulatory environment, at the fifth Joburg Indaba Conference, he said the industry has to reconsider the principles of the latest Mining Charter.

Leon averred that while Mining Charter One was a social compact with government, labour and business, this compact has “gone out of the window” with Mining Charter Three.

“In fact, even in Mining Charter Two there was an erosion of those principles,” he argued, stressing the need for a re-evaluation of why the charter was originally created.

Mineral Investment Advisory Services director Jacinto Rocha, meanwhile, pointed out constitutional and legal problems in the latest charter, noting that aspects, such as the proposed 51% black ownership of prospecting rights, “will not fly”.

He reiterated that, if changes need to be implemented in the sector, the industry needs to understand what it is they want to change.

He further averred that if changes are to be made to the charter, the parent of the charter, the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act must also be reconsidered. He added that investigations must be made into proposals in the old charter that were not executed or implemented and the industry must start addressing those gaps.

Rocha added that if he could, he would plead with Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane to not destroy what has been built over many years, suggesting that if the Minister wants to be successful in the drive for radical economic transformation, the country requires the institutional capacity, as well as people that have the knowledge or experience.

Eunomix MD Claude Baissac also highlighted that few mining managers, investors or companies considered mining as a long-term business. He advised the industry to take a long-term perspective on policies and regulatory frameworks.

Edited by Chanel de Bruyn
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

Comments

Showroom

Booyco Electronics
Booyco Electronics

Booyco Electronics, South African pioneer of Proximity Detection Systems, offers safety solutions for underground and surface mining, quarrying,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
SMS group
SMS group

At SMS group, we have made it our mission to create a carbon-neutral and sustainable metals industry.

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Hyphen, Eva mine, ferrochrome price make headlines
Hyphen, Eva mine, ferrochrome price make headlines
27th March 2024
Resources Watch
Resources Watch
27th March 2024

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.06 0.094s - 88pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now