MPRDA Amendment Bill could present legal ambiguity for oil & gas sector

If approved, the much debated Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) Amendment Bill, currently before President Jacob Zuma for final endorsement, was likely to create ambiguity and uncertainty around the overarching legislation governing the oil and gas industry. Describing South Africa’s legislation as unique, as the mining and petroleum industries were administered under the same legislation, law firm Dentons candidate attorney Danielle Hofmeyer on Wednesday said the oil and gas industry would need to ensure compliance not only with the changes rung in by the MPRDA Amendment Bill, but also with that of the existing Petroleum Pipelines Act, the Petroleum Act and the Gas Act.