Pretoria - Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu has approved the withdrawal of an exemption granted to African Exploration Mining and Finance Corporation (AEMFC) (Pty) Ltd.
This is in terms of section 106 (1) of the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act [MPRDA], 2002 (Act No. 28 of 2002).
This exemption was prompted by the coal crisis of October 2008 (which led to load shedding) and aimed to facilitate access to coal resources for AEMFC in a bid to deal with the national emergency.
"She [minister] has effectively exempted it [AEMFC] from the provisions of sections 16, 20, 22 and 27 of the said Act in so far as it relates to any activity to prospect, mine and the removal of any mineral for accumulating and stockpiling for purposes of security of supply and purposes incidental thereto," said the Mineral Resources Department in a statement.
"Although AEMFC is an organ of state which qualifies for exemption as contemplated in section 106 (1) of the Act, it has complied with all the application and granting criteria in terms of section 16, 20, 22 and 27 of the MPRDA in so far as their existing applications or rights are concerned."
Shabangu has repeatedly stated before and during her current road show that there was no need for AEMFC to be exempted from the provisions of the Act.
This notice will appear in the Government Gazette on Monday, 14 March 2011.
