Parliament, Saturday, 31 January 2026 – The Portfolio Committee on Mineral and Petroleum Resources has expressed serious concerns over the absence of the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) during its oversight visit to the Port of Richards Bay to engage on the impact of the Quattro Scheme initiative.The visit to the Port of Richards Bay was part of the committee’s week-long oversight visit programme which was kick-started in the Eastern Cape and will conclude in KwaZulu-Natal today.
The Chairperson of the committee, Mr Mikateko Mahlaule said: “It is unforgivable that the Department elected to disregard such a critical meeting, particularly in light of the challenges facing the initiative, including issues of volume allocation and the sustainability of junior miners. Transformation requires focused commitment and collaborative efforts to address all impediments affecting this initiative.”
The committee will formally write to the department to request cogent reasons for its absence. The venue for the meeting to engage with the department on the matter will be at Parliament in Cape Town.
The Quattro Scheme is a transformation initiative jointly managed by the Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) and the DMPR. It allocates 4 million tonnes of export capacity to emerging and junior black-owned coal producers.
The committee commended Richards Bay Coal Terminal and Transnet for interventions aimed at improving logistics infrastructure to facilitate the movement of coal from mines to the port. These interventions include the reinstatement of the signalling system, improvements in operational efficiencies such as reduced processing times, and ensuring the availability of locomotives.
“While these initiatives are welcomed, the committee has called for enhanced solutions to persistent challenges, including the lack of loading sites for junior miners, the need for co-loading arrangements, and improved market access. The urgency of addressing these matters calls for the attendance of the department at the oversight visit programmes of this nature,” Mr Mahlaule emphasised.
The committee further raised concerns about the current volumes allocated to junior miners, noting that these allocations act as a barrier to access and render their operations unsustainable, particularly in a volatile coal export market. The committee highlighted that the 5% allocation to 22 junior miners, translating to approximately 4 million tonnes per annum should be reconsidered.
“The fact that junior miners have consistently met their allocated volumes should serve as sufficient justification to review and increase these allocations, thereby supporting the sustainability of their investments,” Mr Mahlaule said.
The committee has committed to sustained and continuous engagement on the Quattro Scheme, noting its significant potential to transform the coal export sector.
Meanwhile, the committee will today conduct an oversight visit to the SAPREF refinery following its acquisition by the Central Energy Fund in May 2024. This visit follows ongoing public debate concerning the transfer of environmental liabilities, the potential financial exposure to the state, and the long-term viability of the refinery.
“The committee seeks to assess the condition of the SAPREF infrastructure, understand the scale and nature of inherited liabilities, and determine the implications for the state and the broader energy security landscape,” said Mr Mahlaule. In addition, the committee will conduct an oversight visit to the Transnet Island View Precinct (IVP) in Durban. This follows a directive from the Minister of Transport to extend the 25-year lease and to monitor ongoing infrastructure upgrades at the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) terminal.
The full oversight programme can be downloaded here: https://tinyurl.com/pf7bxryd
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON MINERALS AND PETROLEUM RESOURCES, MR MIKATEKO MAHLAULE.
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