Departments

Departments

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• The Licensing and Legal Compliance Department

  • Ensure the proper processing of applications for permits and rights under the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 (Act 28 of 2002) (''MPRDA'') and provide the legal foundation to enable the discipline specialists in ensuring that the Agency and permit/right;
    
  • Holders fulfil their obligations relating to reconnaissance, exploration and production activities;
    
  • Provide the organisational framework within which the activities of discipline specialists are co-ordinated to effect timely processing of applications for permits and rights;
    
  • Prepare and submit recommendations concerning the granting or refusal of permits and rights for approval by the Agency, the Board and the Minister as appropriate;
    
  • Ensure the timely collection of all relevant fees and considerations;
    
  • Provide specialist legal opinion on the interpretation of MPRDA as the basis for enforcement by discipline specialists of compliance with the terms of the MPRDA by operators;
    
  • Provide support to internal clients in the development and management of general commercial contracts in support of the company's operations;
    
  • Liaison with Department of Minerals and Energy to ensure alignment of interpretation and application of the MPRDA; and
    
  • Develop client relationships and communicate with clients regarding interpretation and application of the MPRDA.

• The Technical Compliance Department

  • Take responsibility for ensuring that the Agency and Permit/Right Holders fulfill their obligations relating to exploration and production activities under the MPRDA;
    
  • Ensure operators conduct reconnaissance / exploration / production operations in accordance with national and international norms;
    
  • Ensure that all operations required in terms of the relevant permit or right are in fact effected;
    
  • Ensure that operations are reported on, and that all data and samples are delivered promptly;
    
  • Evaluate the technical competence of applicants for permits and rights;
    
  • Evaluate the work programmes proposed in applications for permits and rights [and negotiate adjustments];
    
  • Evaluate data received from operators for completeness and consistency;
    
  • Develop and implement policies, standards and procedures for the technical aspects of petroleum reconnaissance, exploration and production operations;
    
  • Plan and direct monitoring, research, development, and regulatory activities;
    
  • Develop client relationships and communicate with clients regarding compliance issues; and
    
  • Provide guidance on violations or problems discovered during inspections in order to determine appropriate regulatory actions or to provide advice on the development and prosecution of regulatory cases.

• The Environmental Compliance Department

  • Take responsibility for ensuring that the Agency fulfils its obligations in terms of environmental matters relating exploration and production activities under the MPRDA;
  • Ensure operators have conducted an environmental impact assessment and submitted the environmental management plan or programme within the stipulated time;
  • Ensure operators have considered, investigated, assessed and communicated the impact of their prospecting on the environment as required by legislation;
  • Ensure operators give effect to the general objectives of the integrated environmental management as stipulated in the National Environmental Act, 1998;
  • Confer with scientists, engineers, regulators, and others, to plan and review environmental projects, and to provide technical assistance;
  • Develop and implement policies, standards and procedures for the environmental, scientific and technical work performed, to ensure regulatory compliance and operations enhancement;
  • Plan and direct research, development, and regulatory activities;
  • Develop client relationships and communicate with clients regarding compliance issues;
  • Direct the analysis of data to determine validity, quality, and scientific significance, and to interpret correlations between human activities and environmental effects;
  • Manage the design of and conduct of studies to obtain technical environmental information about planned projects; and
  • Provide guidance on violations or problems discovered during inspections in order to determine appropriate regulatory actions or to provide advice on the development and prosecution of regulatory cases.