Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002
Encyclopedia
Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) is an act
of the Parliament
of South Africa
. It came into effect on May 1, 2004
, and now governs the acquisition, use and disposal of mineral rights. The old common-law
principles are therefore no longer applicable. The MPRDA entrenches state power and control over the mineral
and petroleum
resources of the country.
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
of the Parliament
Parliament of South Africa
The Parliament of South Africa is South Africa's legislature and under the country's current Constitution is composed of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces....
of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. It came into effect on May 1, 2004
2004 in South Africa
-January:* 1 January – Asher Karni, an Israeli and South African businessman from Sea Point, Cape Town who is alleged to have supplied nuclear technology to Pakistan, is arrested at Denver International Airport, Colorado-March:...
, and now governs the acquisition, use and disposal of mineral rights. The old common-law
Common law
Common law is law developed by judges through decisions of courts and similar tribunals rather than through legislative statutes or executive branch action...
principles are therefore no longer applicable. The MPRDA entrenches state power and control over the mineral
Mineral
A mineral is a naturally occurring solid chemical substance formed through biogeochemical processes, having characteristic chemical composition, highly ordered atomic structure, and specific physical properties. By comparison, a rock is an aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids and does not...
and petroleum
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
resources of the country.
See also
- Mining industry of South Africa
- South African property law