The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) and the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) have issued a request for bids in respect of the design, implementation, maintenance and support of a mining licensing system.
"The new Mining Licensing System, which will be customised to South Africa’s needs, is expected to enhance efficiency and transparency in the application, granting and management of prospecting and mining rights or permits.
"Through this system, the DMRE seeks to improve the accuracy and accessibility of all relevant information by all stakeholders. Further, the system must empower the DMRE to accelerate the processing of applications within a reasonable timeframe," the department said.
The procurement of the Mining Licensing System is a key milestone for South Africa’s mining industry, particularly as the government implements the country’s Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan, it averred.
The DMRE and SITA will host a compulsory virtual briefing session with prospective bidders at 10:00 on March 31.
Further, questions and queries on the tender will be addressed up to April 12, while the closing date for submission of bids is April 19 at 11:00.
The DMRE has, for a number of years, committed to the development of a mining cadastre, while industry stakeholders have long been bemoaning the lack of a cadastre system, which they say is critical to attracting increased investment in exploration in South Africa.