Background: Mine closure obligations are economically significant, and the consequences of insufficient mine closure obligations are of public interest. The incidence of acid mine drainage and the high number of ownerless and abandoned mines in South Africa have brought the consequences of insufficient mine closure obligations in the mining sector into the spotlight.Aim: The aim of this study is to establish the extent to which platinum mines listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) comply with a recommended disclosure framework.Setting: South Africa is the largest producer of platinum in the world. The study covers all platinum mines listed on the JSE.Methods: Using a framework, a census of the annual financial statements, integrated annual reports and sustainability reports or websites was conducted to determine the level of compliance of disclosure relating to mine closure obligations to the recommended disclosure framework.Results: The results show disclosure relating to mine closure obligations of platinum mines listed on the JSE is inconsistent and not sufficient for stakeholders to understand the scope, key assumptions, parameters or reliability of the assessment and calculation of mine closure obligations.Conclusion: The assumptions used to determine mine closure obligations are specialised and multi-disciplinary. The accuracy and reliability of mine closure obligations will improve dramatically through greater transparency and access to information. It is recommended that the JSE listings for mining companies should require a competent person’s report to provide disclosure on assumptions, key values and processes applied to determine the mine closure obligations. Furthermore, it is recommended that the Department of Mineral Resources implements a mechanism of independent assessment of mine closure obligations by experts on an ongoing basis.
IFRS 6, Exploration for and evaluation of mineral resources, allows junior exploration companies to develop their own accounting policies with regard to exploration and evaluation expenditure. This will result, as indicated by the research problem, in inconsistent accounting practices among different companies. The objective of this article is to identify the various accounting treatments of exploration expenditure and to develop recommendations for consistent application of accounting practices. Relevant literature is critically analysed and the judgement sampling method is used to select junior exploration companies to participate in a self-administered survey to identify the various accounting treatments of exploration and evaluation expenditure by junior exploration companies. The findings of this study show that, despite the time and resources expended by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) in the extractive activities project, nothing has changed in the last 40 years. Progress in the standardisation of accounting for exploration and evaluation expenditure can be made if the exemptions included in IFRS 6 are removed or only the successful-efforts method incorporated into IFRS 6.
One of the consequences of the change in the mineral policy of South Africa with the promulgation of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act 28 of 2002 was the increase in junior exploration companies. Junior exploration companies are mainly involved in prospecting activities. No definition exists for either prospecting or exploration in the Income Tax Act 58 of 1962 (Income Tax Act). The lack of research and case law on the tax treatment of prospecting expenditure by junior exploration companies may result in various interpretations for the treatment of prospecting expenditure. Through critical analysis of specific sections in the Income Tax Act, applicable case law and relevant literature, it is evident that there are different interpretations by junior exploration companies of the treatment of prospecting expenditure from an income tax perspective. The perceived challenges with interpretation of the tax treatment of prospecting expenditure by junior exploration companies create an opportunity for further research.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.