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PETROLEUM (ONSHORE) ACT 1991 - SECT 19B Land over which exploration licences may be renewed

PETROLEUM (ONSHORE) ACT 1991 - SECT 19B

Land over which exploration licences may be renewed

19B Land over which exploration licences may be renewed

(1) The area of land over which an exploration licence may be renewed is not to exceed 75% of the size of--
(a) the area over which the licence was originally granted, in the case of a first renewal of the licence, or
(b) the area over which its last previous renewal was granted, in any other case.
(2) However, the Minister may grant a renewal over more than 75% of the size of the area over which the licence was originally or last granted if--
(a) the applicant for renewal claims that special circumstances exist that justify doing so, and
(b) the Minister is satisfied that special circumstances exist that justify doing so.
(3) Without limiting the considerations available to the Minister in determining whether special circumstances exist for the purposes of this section, the Minister may take into account any partial cancellation of the exploration licence on the request of the holder of the licence under section 22, and reduce the percentage of the area of land over which the renewal may not be granted.
(4) The Minister may direct an applicant for renewal of an exploration licence, within the time specified in the direction, to nominate which part of the area of land is sought to be included in the renewed exploration licence, where the licence may not be renewed over the whole area of land.
(5) The Minister may refuse to renew an exploration licence if such a direction is not complied with within the time specified in the direction (in addition to the other grounds for refusal in clause 5 of Schedule 1B).
(6) The Minister is not bound to renew an exploration licence over the area nominated by the applicant in compliance with a direction under this section or otherwise.