Modern Mining May 2024

mine other minerals as well. South Africa is a more challenging task given the scale and diversity of our industry.” As it stands, data relevant to mining and prospect ing rights are scattered, with some information still in paper files while other related sets of information have already been captured. The task of collating the information onto a single digital platform is set to be a time-consuming exercise. “The challenge for the consortium lies in the accurate capturing of all the data. As such, I believe the time-frame to getting the cadastral system oper ational is a little too optimistic.” The PMG Consortium reported that it would have the cadastral system operational in a year’s time with a further two years required for system maintenance. “The good news is that the company chosen to implement the cadastral system is reputable, which is a huge step forward for the South African mining sector. The fact that the cadastral system will be transparent means there is a low chance of more than one company applying for a mining or pros pecting right on the same deposit. Importantly, the online system will allow the various government departments to seamlessly evaluate the permits and eliminate the extensive mining licence backlogs that currently exist,” concludes Mitchell. 

As prospecting is highly risky and often takes years, extended licencing timeframes must be considered.

Cadastral system  A functional mining cadastral system is an online portal that displays a country’s mineral wealth in a way that is accessible to the public.  It can serve the dual function of showing the state of play of mining activi ties while allowing companies to apply for various kinds of exploration or mining rights.  The successful implementation of the cadastral system will be a game changer for the mining industry, which for years has had to contend with the disastrous SAMRAD system.

May 2024  MODERN MINING  13