The Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) says it has received only positive comments regarding its new One Environmental Management System from parties applying for prospecting or mining rights.

DMR media liaison officer Phuti Mabelebele says the DMR and the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) started discussions in 2010 about the system, which came into effect last month.

The system was publicly announced by President Jacob Zuma during his State of the Nation address in February 2014 and aims to highlight government’s commitment to improving the ease of doing business in mining and enhancing South Africa’s global competitiveness as a mining investment jurisdiction.

Mabelebele tells Mining Weekly that the system provides an integrated licensing regime for the granting of rights, the issuing of water use licences and the approval of environmental authorisations, thereby ensuring that environmental management in South Africa is governed by a single piece of legislation.

“The system entails the synchronised processing, granting and issuing of the respective licences and authorisations by the DMR, the DEA and the Department of Water Affairs.”

Mabelebele asserts that the integrated licensing regime “will enable improved turnaround times, create regulatory certainty and further enhance the ease of doing business”.

Under this environmental system, the Minister of Mineral Resources will issue environmental authorisations and waste management licences in accordance with the provisions of the National Environmental Management Act (Nema) and the National Environmental Management Waste Act for mining and related activities.

Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa will be the appeals authority for these authorisations.

Mabelebele notes that the Ministers of Environmental Affairs and Mineral Resources, as well as Water and Sanitation, have agreed on fixed timeframes for the consideration and issuing of permits, licences and authorisations in their respective legislation.

They have also agreed to synchronise the process involving the issuing of permits, licences and authorisations to within 300 days. Should a decision to issue a licence be appealed, an additional maximum period of 90 days is provided for to finalise the process.

Until all the requisite legislative amendments have been effected to formalise these timeframes, those stipulated in Nema will apply.

Mineral Resources Minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi is authorised to appoint environmental mineral resource inspectors, who will have the same powers as environmental management inspectors to enforce the provisions and regulations of Nema regarding mining and related activities.

The finalisation of the regulations governing the development of residue stockpiles and residue deposits, as well as the financial provision for rehabilitation regulations in terms of Nema, is still pending. Until these regulations have been finalised, the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) regulations will remain in force.

All environmental management plans or programmes approved in terms of the MPRDA prior to December 8, 2014, will remain effective in terms of Nema.