South Africa seeks E and P relaunch with new licensing regime

South Africa is hoping for new exploration impetus to find significant domestic gas reserves to help it meet power demand while replacing polluting coal. Controversial amendments to the Mineral & Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) have been withdrawn from parliament and President Cyril Ramaphosa and mineral resources minister Gwede Mantashe have both said they intend to separate oil and gas legislation from the mining and minerals framework.