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Exclusive: Government (sort of) clarifies reduction in mining application backlog

Exclusive: Government (sort of) clarifies reduction in mining application backlog
(Image: Adobe Stock)

‘It seems the DMRE is unwilling to provide meaningful statistics, suggesting that they still have something to hide,’ says one analyst.

Minerals and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe told the Joburg Mining Indaba last week that the backlog of 5,326 applications for mining and related rights had been reduced, but did not say by how much. Business Maverick followed up with the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) and progress seems to have been made, but the devil is in the details. 

Business Maverick asked the DMRE if it could put a number to the minister’s remarks from last week regarding the backlog. 

“Kindly note that from February 2021, the number of mining rights applications that have been adjudicated is 114, while the number of prospecting rights applications adjudicated is 493,” the DMRE said in an emailed response to our query. 

That total is 607, which would imply that the backlog has been cut from the 5,326 that the department flagged in a presentation to Parliament early this year to 4,719. This certainly indicates that some progress is being made, though not exactly at a cheetah kind of pace. 

Having said that, context is everything. The department, for example, did not clarify if this figure includes applications that had been made since February, so 4,719 may not be the precise figure for the remaining backlog. It also did not say how many were approved and how many rejected. An application that has been adjudicated could fall into either category. 

The biggest progress appears to have been made with direct mining rights applications.

The backlog number on this front published early this year was 235, so having 114 adjudicated would suggest the backlog has almost been cut in half. But this could also include applications that had subsequently been made. 

The backlog of prospecting rights stood at 2,485, so processing 493 is certainly a start. But again, the DMRE did not specify if or how many prospecting rights applications have subsequently been made. 

Not many, one suspects, as few significant mining companies are willing to commit capital to exploration projects in South Africa at the moment, given uncertainties around the investment and policy environment.  

There was also no word on three other application types: mining permits (the backlog stood at (1,644), cessions (238), and renewals (724). 

Analysts remain sceptical.  

“The DMRE provides no comparable regulatory statistics from one period to the next, so it is hard to tell if any progress is being made at all. Not only that, but adjudicated applications would include approvals and rejections — so the direction of travel is unclear too,” Paul Miller, director of mining consultancy AmaranthCX, told Business Maverick. 

“It seems the DMRE is unwilling to provide meaningful statistics, suggesting that they still have something to hide.”  

Transparency is the key issue here. The Samrad system used for such applications is widely regarded as dysfunctional and opaque. An announcement is expected soon on its replacement, which the industry hopes will be a transparent cadastre providing up-to-date and easy to access information on mining rights and applications. 

The application snarl-up and the lack of a proper cadastre are among the many deterrents to investment in South Africa’s mining sector. Despite a commodity boom and record profits, the sector is not investing much in exploration or new mines and that sort of thing. 

In the meantime, it would help if the DMRE published regular stats on the status of applications — with proper context. DM/BM

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Comments - Please in order to comment.

  • Brian Cotter says:

    The request is for simple basic metrics of the DMRE. I remember Cyril said the Ministers had to report back to him against defined targets. So make Cyril answer for it. Gwede has been holding out for a long time to be removed with a cabinet reshuffle but something is preventing it.

  • Fanie Rajesh Ngabiso says:

    I really think it’s time we all package all these topics up neatly:

    ANC = Corrupt
    ANC = Useless
    ANC = Economic destruction and poverty for everyone in this country.

    Currently in middle of load-shedding, I am only able to write this as I am privileged enough to have access to solar. So sorry for those that aren’t.

  • Keith Beeston says:

    why apply for permits at all. Find the location of the product to be mined and start mining. The mine can be set up anywhere (resident areas included) without a worry. If the Zama Zama can do it without a finger, fine or jail time being brought to them so can anybody. How can the Government justify the Zama getting the go ahead and not anybody else. If investment takes place in SA now I think those Investing should be investigated

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