Northern Territory Consolidated Acts

MINING ACT - SECT 29A

(1) Subject to this section and to Parts XIA and XIB as applicable the holder of an exploration licence may, at any time before 3 months before the expiration of the licence or such later time, being not later than that expiration, as the Minister allows, apply to the Minister for the renewal or further renewal of the licence.

(2) An application under subsection (1) shall -

(a) be in writing;

(b) be lodged with the Department;

(c) be accompanied by the prescribed application fee and the prescribed rent;

(d) include comprehensive details of the exploration activities carried out on the licence area during the term of the exploration licence;

(e) include the applicant's proposals for work and expenditure during the term of the renewal of the exploration licence; and

(f) include a statement of the applicant's reasons for seeking the renewal of the exploration licence.

(3) The Minister, on receiving an application under subsection (1), may require the applicant to provide the Minister with such additional information relating to the application as the Minister directs, and the Minister may defer considering the application until such time as the information is provided.

(4) An application under this section cannot be made in respect of an exploration licence that has been renewed under this section on 2 previous occasions.

(5) Subject to this section, the Minister may, at his discretion, grant or refuse to grant an application made under this section.

(6) Where the Minister grants an application under this section, the exploration licence -

(a) subject to this Act, remains in force for 2 years from the date on which the licence would have expired; and

(b) may be renewed in respect of all or a part of the licence area to which the licence applied at the date of the application for renewal.

(7) The Minister may grant an application under this section subject to such conditions, in addition to or varying those to which the exploration licence is already subject, as the Minister thinks fit.

(8) Where an application for the renewal of an exploration licence has been made in accordance with this section, the licence -

(a) shall be deemed to continue in force until the application is granted or refused, as the case may be; and

(b) remains in force, if renewed, for 2 years from the date on which the licence would have expired but for this subsection.

(9) Sections 26, 27, 28 and 29 do not apply to or in relation to an exploration licence renewed under this section.