A GUIDELINE FOR A PROSPECTING WORK PROGRAMME TO BE SUBMITTED FOR APPLICATIONS FOR A PROSPECTING RIGHT IN TERMS OF THE MINERAL AND PETROLEUM RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT, 2002, (ACT NO. 28 OF 2002)

This document provides a guideline for applicants seeking a prospecting right under the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 (Act No. 28 of 2002). It details the specific requirements for compiling a prospecting work programme, which must be a consolidated document submitted with the application to demonstrate the applicant's technical ability, financial resources, and commitment to environmental standards.

• To be granted a prospecting right under section 17(1) of the Act, an applicant must demonstrate access to financial resources, technical ability to conduct operations optimally, a budget compatible with the operation's duration, and a plan that avoids "unacceptable pollution, ecological degradation or damage to the environment".
• The prospecting work programme must be a consolidated document rather than a series of references to other annexures. It must include duplicates of specific application data, such as the applicant's full particulars, the registered description of the land (including farm name and subdivision), the plan of the land, and the minerals to be prospected.
• Applicants must provide a detailed geological description and map to justify their prospecting methods. This includes listing known mineral, rock, or commodity deposits of economic interest in the vicinity within the regional geology context.
• The programme requires a comprehensive action plan with timeframes for determining mineral resources and distribution. This plan must cover borehole results, sampling analyses, geophysical and geochemical survey data, geological modelling, and feasibility or pre-feasibility reports.
• Prospecting methods must be described in detail, including the extent, depth, and locality of invasive work such as drilling, trenching, pitting, and excavations. If drilling is used, the specific technique (e.g., diamond core, percussion, or auger drilling) must be specified.
• Activities must be scheduled in phases with associated cost estimates. The budget must include realistic estimates for environmental management and rehabilitation costs and must be verifiable against the technical descriptions provided in the programme.
• Applicants must provide documentary proof of technical ability or access to it. This can include resumes of registered professionals, contractual agreements with service providers, or a budget that allows for the procurement of professional services at market-related prices.
• Financial ability must be proven through conclusive evidence, such as loan agreements, company resolutions, or equity schemes. The applicant must also prove that the funding source has the means to provide the funds, evidenced by their most recent audited financial statements.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (n.d.). A GUIDELINE FOR A PROSPECTING WORK PROGRAMME TO BE SUBMITTED FOR APPLICATIONS FOR A PROSPECTING RIGHT IN TERMS OF THE MINERAL AND PETROLEUM RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT, 2002, (ACT NO. 28 OF 2002). https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Prospecting-Work-Programme-Guideline.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. A GUIDELINE FOR A PROSPECTING WORK PROGRAMME TO BE SUBMITTED FOR APPLICATIONS FOR A PROSPECTING RIGHT IN TERMS OF THE MINERAL AND PETROLEUM RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT, 2002, (ACT NO. 28 OF 2002). n.d. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Prospecting-Work-Programme-Guideline.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=A GUIDELINE FOR A PROSPECTING WORK PROGRAMME TO BE SUBMITTED FOR APPLICATIONS FOR A PROSPECTING RIGHT IN TERMS OF THE MINERAL AND PETROLEUM RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT, 2002, (ACT NO. 28 OF 2002) |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Prospecting-Work-Programme-Guideline.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centreforenvironmentalrightsndguideline, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{A GUIDELINE FOR A PROSPECTING WORK PROGRAMME TO BE SUBMITTED FOR APPLICATIONS FOR A PROSPECTING RIGHT IN TERMS OF THE MINERAL AND PETROLEUM RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT, 2002, (ACT NO. 28 OF 2002)}}, institution = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Prospecting-Work-Programme-Guideline.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }