South Africa will launch its new online mineral rights application system next week, which aims to ensure transparency and end administrative blunders, the department of mineral resources said.
“The system [South African Mineral Resources Administration online system] for prospecting rights, mining permits and mining rights will go live on April 18 2011,” the department said on its website.
The mining ministry imposed a six-month halt on new prospecting bids last year to overhaul mining laws, iron out irregularities in the way rights are awarded and audit existing exploration and drilling contracts. – Reuters