SA’s MPRDA returns to committee

South Africa’s controversial Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Amendment Bill is due to be returned to the minerals portfolio committee in early May, amid hopes that long-running uncertainty about the legal framework for exploration and production might finally be resolved. Concerns have focused on plans to transfer authority over the processing and administration of exploration and production rights from the regulatory Petroleum Agency SA to the Department of Mineral Resources’ regional managers, as well as a vague provision giving the state a 20% free carried interest in all new exploration and production rights.