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The Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy will this weekend, 21 to 23 April 2023, hold three public hearings on the Upstream Petroleum Resources Development (UPRD) Bill [B13-2021] in Free State.
 
The public hearings will be held in Thabo Mufutsanyana district, Phuthaditjhaba; Xhariep district, and Kopanong and Mangaung Metropolitan, Botshabelo. The residents of these districts will have an opportunity to comment on the UPRD Bill. The residents have already commented on the Bill in West Coast, Overberg and Garden Route districts in Western Cape; OR Tambo, Amathole, Sarah Baartman and Nelson Mandela districts in Eastern Cape; Ugu and UMgungundlovu districts as well as EThekwini Metropolitan Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal; Vhembe, Mopani, Waterberg and Capricorn districts in Limpopo; and Frances Baart, John Taolo Gaetsewe and Namakwa districts in the Northern Cape.
 
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), with the aim of 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.
 
It will also enhance state participation in the upstream petroleum industry and economic transformation of the industry and promote petroleum resource development in a sustainable and equitable manner for the benefit of all South Africans. Section 59 (1) (a) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa requires the National Assembly to facilitate public involvement in the legislative and other processes of the NA and its committees. All public hearings start at 10 am and continue until 2 pm and members of the media are invited to attend.

Issued by the Parliamentary Communication Services