(1) With reference to the remining of rock dumps and tailings storage facilities (TSFs) on abandoned and/or derelict mines, who becomes the owner of a rock dump or TSF on an abandoned and/or derelict mine;
(2) whether the specified rock dump and/or TSF falls under the administration of his department; if not, which department does it fall under; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) whether the registered owner has a specified time frame to utilise the waste rock dumps and the TSFs; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(4) whether the process to be followed for the remining of a rock dump or TSF is the same as the process for a prospecting licence, which would include an environmental impact assessment and a water use licence?
1. With reference to the remining of rock dumps and tailings storage facilities (TSFs) on abandoned and/or derelict mines, the person who was legally authorised to mine on the land in question, becomes owner of the movable dumps or (TSFs). Refer to the judgment of De Beers Consolidated Mines versus Ataqua Mining (Pty) Ltd and Others (3215/06) [2007] ZAFSHC 74 (13 December 2007).
2. ...
(1) What licenses are required from his department to run a (a) coal wash plant and (b) chrome wash plant.
(2) what enforcements measures does his department have in place when one is in breach of not having a license.
(3) how regularly does his department conduct inspections at these coal wash and chrome wash plants.
(4) how many violations were reported to his department in the past three years on each (a) province and (b) wash plant.
(5) what action steps were taken by his department to rectify the specified violations?
The licence required to run a coal wash plant and chrome wash plant is a Water Use Licence and is granted by the Department of Water and Sanitation. Therefore, the details on the licence required, enforcement measures, inspections and violations are those stipulated by the Department of Water and Sanitation in terms of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act 36 of 1998).
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What punitive measures does his department have in place to ensure that all mines operating in (a) Secunda, (b) Witbank and (c) Middelburg comply with environmental regulations put in place to prevent degradation and/or pollution, in order to improve the life expectancy of communities who reside around the specified mining areas?
Section 31(L) (1) of National Environmental Management Act, 108 of 1998 (NEMA as amended) states that: an Environmental Management Inspector or Environmental Mineral and Petroleum Inspector, may issue a compliance notice if there are reasonable grounds for believing that a person has not complied-
(a) with a provision of the law for which that inspector has been designated in terms of section 31D; or ...
What (a) total number of applications for mining licenses were received in each province for the 2023-24 financial year, (b) number of the applications were successful and (c) number of the successful applications for mining licenses were awarded to women and persons living with disabilities?
- 2525 mining licenses applications were received since the beginning of the 2023/24 financial year.
- None of the applications mentioned in (a) above have been finalised.
- Please see (b) above
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Whether his department has any plans in place to create sustainable employment for the youth and women who will rehabilitate the 6 000 abandoned mines in the Republic; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
The department is currently rehabilitating Asbestos Derelict and Ownerless mines in the country. As part of the rehabilitation process, local employment comprising women, men, and youth forms part of the labour. Furthermore, sub-contractors for respective work also employ women and youth in their operations. The department reports these employment initiatives as part of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).
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(1) Since the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (Bid Window 1 to 6) was initiated, (a)(i) what total number of projects were awarded contracts and (ii) to which companies were such contracts awarded and (b) what total number of (i) the projects that contracts were awarded to, have gone online and (ii) megawatts have they added to the grid;
(2) whether he has found that any of the companies to whom contracts were awarded, had neglected to honour the contracts; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what steps have been taken to mitigate against non-performance by the companies to whom contracts were awarded?
In response to (1)(a)(i) a total of 110 Preferred Bidders have signed project agreements under the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), and (1)(a)(ii) the details of these projects can be found at Annexure A attached, and on the IPP Projects Database which can be accessed as https://www.ipp-projects.co.za/ProjectDatabase.
In response to (1)(b)(i) and (ii), 90 renewable energy IPP projects have completed ...
(1) Since 2005, what (a)(i) Government bailouts, guarantees and/or other financial assistance has been provided to The Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa (PetroSA) and (ii) was the quantum thereof in each case and (b) conditions were imposed on PetroSA in order to secure such assistance from Government;
(2) whether PetroSA complied with the conditions imposed in each specified case; if not, what consequences arose from the noncompliance; if so, what are the relevant details?
- PetroSA has not received any government bailouts or financial assistance since the aforementioned period, i.e. 2005. PetroSA has in past requested funding assistance, either in the form of capital injection or loan guarantees, which has not been provided or advanced.
- In the absence of the government bailouts, guarantees and/or financial assistance, there are no conditions imposed to PetroSA for fulfilment as a result no ...
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Whether (a) he, (b) the Deputy Minister and (c) any other official in his department attended the Rugby World Cup final in France in October 2023; if not; what is the position in this regard; if so, what (i) are the relevant details of each person in his department who attended the Rugby World Cup, (ii) is the total number of such persons and (iii) were the total costs of (aa) travel, (bb) accommodation and (cc) any other related costs that were incurred by his department as a result of the trip(s)?
The (a) Minister (b) the Deputy Minister and (c) officials in the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy did not attend the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France. The department Incurred no costs whatsoever as no officials were authorised to attend the World Cup.
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(1) What (a) is the projected completion date of the Redstone Concentrated Solar Thermal Power Project that forms part of the SA Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer (REIPP) Procurement Programme, (b) is the projected lifespan of the project, (c) has been the total expenditure on the project to date and (d) total number of jobs (i) have been created in construction and other relevant fields and (ii) are local jobs;
(2) whether the project will be completed within the R11,6 billion cost estimate; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) (a)(i) what are the details of South African funders who are involved in the project and (ii) to what extent are the specified funders involved and (b) what is Eskom’s share in the project;
(4) whether the specified project falls within the Just Energy Transition Programme; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details? NW4817E
It is important to note that Independent Power Producer (IPP) Projects procured under the Renewable Energy IPP Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) provide all the funds for the construction and operation of the power plant, and bear all the construction and site risks of the project – any delays or cost overruns are for the account of the IPP and not recoverable. At Commercial Close, IPPs ...
Whether his department has the figures for the allocated budget and actual spending on the compensation for liability given to private citizens who have suffered losses in business operations and damage to their personal property because of load shedding; if not, what disaster prevention measures were adopted by his department n this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
The department does not have a budget allocated for compensation of liability to private citizens who have suffered losses in business operations and damage to their personal property because of load shedding. Damages, direct loss or consequential loss as a result of load shedding must be directed to ESKOM and Municipalities as they are competent authorities for the generation and maintain supply of electricity.
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