Induction workshop: engagement with DMPR and entities; with Deputy Minister

The Portfolio Committee convened to receive a briefing from the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources and its entities on their roles and responsibilities, programmes, and projects, as well as their challenges and achievements. The entities were Mintek, the Council for Geoscience (CGS), the Mine Health and Safety Council (MHSC), the State Diamond Trader (SDT), the South African Diamond and Precious Metals Regulator (SADPMR), as well as the CEF Group. The Department told the Committee that its six main priorities included promoting investment in the mining and energy sectors by creating an enabling policy and regulatory environment, facilitating exploration activities, and enhancing beneficiation and value addition of mineral and energy resources; ensuring security of energy supply by diversifying the energy mix, increasing electricity generation capacity, improving energy efficiency and demand management, and ensuring the maintenance and refurbishment of existing infrastructure; accelerating the transformation of the mining and energy sectors by promoting equitable access to mineral and energy resources, advancing the participation of historically disadvantaged groups, especially women and youth, and implementing social and labour plans to improve the living conditions of mine workers and communities. It was also prioritising the promotion of regional integration and cooperation in the mining and energy sectors by participating in regional and continental initiatives, such as the African Mining Vision, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Mining, the SADC Energy Protocol, and the Grand Inga Hydropower Project; ensuring environmental sustainability and mitigating climate change impacts by implementing the country's commitments under the Paris Agreement; promoting the development and deployment of clean technologies; enhancing environmental compliance and enforcement; and rehabilitating derelict and ownerless mines. It was strengthening institutional capacity and governance by enhancing organisational performance, ensuring sound financial management, developing human capital, fostering stakeholder engagement, and leveraging information and communication technologies. Having heard presentations from the DMPR and its six entities, Members raised questions regarding the type of support the entities would need from the Portfolio Committee in the 7 th Administration. Members also raised issues that they would like the Department and the entities to prioritise, including ensuring personal protective equipment for women working in mines, fast-tracking the implementation of the new cadastral system for the licensing of mining rights, as well as dealing with the detrimental effects of blasting by mines in the Emalahleni region in Mpumalanga. Members also stressed the importance of the Department ensuring that its regional offices respond expeditiously to issues raised by communities. After hearing the Central Energy Fund (CEF) Group presentation, Members raised serious concerns regarding the business projects attempted by PetroSA, questioning who had decided to partner with Ikhwezi without doing the proper due diligence. They also questioned the relationship between PetroSA and Total Energies, considering Total’s exit from the block 11B/12B gas project off the southern coast of South Africa and the Block 5, 6, and 7 project. There were also concerns about a possible loss of jobs during the merger of three entities under the CEF group. The Committee appreciated the information provided by the Department and its entities during the induction meeting, and noted that it would invite them back to account on some of the issues that had been raised. The Chairperson said the Committee would narrow the scope when it invited the entities so that matters would be dealt with in depth and none of the issues would be left unanswered.