Centre for Environmental Rights – Advancing Environmental Rights in South Africa

Members of the public are invited to comment on the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s intention to extend the transitional arrangements contained in the Financial Provisioning Regulations, 2015 for mining right holders who obtained their rights before the 20 November 2015, for an additional 12 months.

The Regulations currently require such mining right holders to comply with the Regulations by 19 June 2021. The proposed amendment will allow until 19 June 2022. The Regulations were first promulgated (and came into operation) in November 2015. This means that since 2015, mining right holders who obtained their rights before 20 November 2015 have not been legally required to comply with these important Regulations which provide for the funds required for the rehabilitation and remediation of environmental damage caused by mining activities. The Minister seeks to extend this period once again  – over six years since publication.

Interested and affected parties are invited to submit comment and/or inputs by 22 May to the addresses listed in the Notice.