By Waakhe Simon Wudu
JUBA, 15 April 2012 [Gurtong] - The Chairperson of the Energy, Mining and Industry Committee Henry Dhila Odwar who presented the Bill in its second reading had requested that the Bill be passed urgently up to its fourth reading.
However, parliamentarians rejected his proposal, saying the Bill was ‘too technical’ and needed thorough scrutiny.
The Bill aims at regulating matters related to survey, exploration licenses, mine development and mining of mineral resources in accordance with sound principles of natural resource management.
Other areas of concern that dragged a long debate on the Bill in the House included wealth sharing of revenue collected from minerals mined in the country.
However, the Bill was not clear on the percentage distribution of wealth sharing among the community, state and national government. It was equally silent on mining activities such as rock quarrying, bricks and tiles industry among others.
Members of parliament also raised concerns with the absence of a clause to address environmental management as a key component of resource exploration.
A member of parliament from Warap State Aleu Yien Aleu called for the regulation of mushrooming small mining industries, saying they are hazardous to the populace.
“Many areas in the country have been excavated and left open. They are specifically hazardous to human and animal life when filled with water.
Nine children have so far drowned in to such openings in Warap and Western Bar El Ghazal States”, he said.