A new exploration and mining licence management system helps companies to manage all aspects of mines' licences and regulatory requirements, says mining and exploration company Minrom CEO Oscar van Antwerpen.

The software system monitors and manages the licences, and provides timely warnings of missing documents or regulatory needs.

The system supports smaller mining companies, as well as exploration and prospecting companies, to ensure that they not only meet the minimum requirements for licences, but also have a complete record of all licence and permit documentation and processes.

Consequently, this will also help them to attract capital, as they can readily provide the required documents and proof for investors to enable them to complete due diligence investigations quickly and accurately, adds Van Antwerpen.

Mining regulations are often onerous to manage and can present significant challenges for smaller companies without dedicated administrative departments.

“South Africa remains a prominent mining country in Africa, with well over 400 mines and ready access to infrastructure, electricity, manufacturing and skills. However, the sector needs effective support platforms for exploration and junior miners such as those of the Toronto Stock Exchange and Australian Stock Exchange.

“By helping exploration and junior mining companies to manage licences, risks and documentation, we aim to support and sustain increased exploration in Africa and specifically South Africa,” he explains.

The software system complies with Namibian legislation, but is being developed to cater for South African legislative requirements.

Additionally, it remains more expensive to operate a mine in the rest of Africa than in South Africa or Namibia, he adds.

Further, while recycling will play an important part in providing the minerals the world economy and new technologies need, the expected scale of demand will necessitate that new mines be established. New mines must be run to strict regulations to meet new investor and regulatory demands to most effectively exploit a reserve, while protecting against environmental damage and contributing to social good.

Mineral exploration, in South Africa and worldwide, dropped during the 1990s and remained subdued for about a decade. While there has been moderate increases in exploration since, the lack of mineral exploration has persisted in Namibia and South Africa, with no major countrywide surveys done since the late 1980s, says Van Antwerpen.

Many local mines are nearing their end of life, and there are few new mines being developed to replace them; however, there are opportunities to exploit smaller deposits in South Africa economically and there is potential to discover high-grade large deposits, he adds.

“South Africa remains a mining country. Supporting exploration, prospecting and junior miners is necessary to develop local mining, manufacturing and industrialisation.