Upstream Petroleum Resources Development Bill under discussion
The awareness meeting will be held at the Ramsgate Lions Hall on March 24 from 10am.
The Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy was in Gamalakhe recently to conduct public hearings on the Upstream Petroleum Resources Development (UPRD) Bill.
According to the committee, the Bill seeks to separate petroleum provision from the mineral provision, as currently provided for in the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (Act No. 28 of 2002).
It added that the separation is also aimed at providing two independent pieces of legislation to address matters pertinent to each industry and to bring about stability and security to investors, especially in the upstream petroleum sector.
Also, the committee said the Bill enhances state participation in the upstream petroleum industry and economic transformation of the industry, saying that it includes provisions that promote petroleum resource development in a sustainable and equitable manner for the benefit of all South Africans.
“The Bill seeks to provide for orderly development of petroleum resources, to provide for equitable access to, and sustainable development of the nation’s petroleum resources, provide for active State and black persons’ participation in the development of the nation’s petroleum resources, provide for a petroleum right that integrates the right to explore and to produce, provide for the facilitation of acquisition of petroleum geo-technical data, provide for a controlled application system through licensing rounds, create an enabling environment for the acceleration of exploration and production of the nation’s petroleum resources, provide for third party access to upstream petroleum infrastructure; to provide for a petroleum right holder to sell a percentage of petroleum to the State for strategic stocks requirements, designate a state-owned company as an entity responsible for managing the State’s carried interest in petroleum rights,” said the committee.
Meanwhile, the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) has called on fishermen, fish shop owners, bait shop owners, surfers, all those that have a love for the ocean and care for its marine life, to join an awareness meeting about the Upstream Petroleum Resource Development Bill.
The Alliance said communities in and around Ramsgate, Margate, Port Shepstone, Port Edward, Port St Johns and surrounding areas are urged to attend the meeting.
SDCEA said it will present the social and environmental effects of the Upstream Petroleum Resource Development Bill at the meeting.
“Attendees would be able to submit comments regarding the bill. We urge all those who eke a livelihood from the coastline of KwaZulu-Natal as well as those who have love and respect for our ocean and its marine life to join us and listen to our message regarding the Upstream Petroleum Resource Development Bill. We are better united and nothing can proceed with speed if we are all involved to stop this Upstream Petroleum Resource Development Bill,” said the Alliance.
The awareness meeting will be held at the Ramsgate Lions Hall on March 24 from 10am .
For more information on the meeting, contact 031 461 1991, or email janeira@sdceango.co.za.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like the South Coast Fever’s Facebook page
