(1)  Where –

(a) a permit, lease, licence, or pipeline licence is, under this Part, to be deemed to continue in force until the Minister grants, or refuses to grant, the renewal of the permit, lease, licence, or pipeline licence; or

(b) a licence is varied under section 44 ; or

(c) a licensee enters into an agreement under section 58 or a direction is given to a licensee under that section; or

(d) a permit, lease, or licence is partly cancelled, partly determined or surrendered as to one or more but not all of the blocks in respect of which it is in force; or

(e) a pipeline licence is varied under section 70 or 71 ; or

(f) a direction is given to a pipeline licensee under section 72 ; or

(g) a pipeline licence is partly cancelled; or

(h) an access authority is granted in respect of a block the subject of a permit, lease, or licence, or an access authority as in force in respect of such a block is varied; or

(i) a permittee, lessee, licensee, pipeline licensee, or the holder of a special prospecting authority or access authority applies, by instrument in writing served on the Minister –

(i) for a variation or suspension of; or

(ii) for exemption from compliance with –

any of the conditions to which the permit, lease, licence, pipeline licence, special prospecting authority, or access authority is subject; or

(j) the Minister under this Part or the regulations gives a direction or consent to a permittee, lessee, licensee, pipeline licensee, or the holder of a special prospecting authority or access authority –

the Minister may, at any time, by instrument in writing served on the permittee, lessee, licensee, pipeline licensee, or the holder of the special prospecting authority or access authority –

(k) vary or suspend; or

(l) exempt the permittee, lessee, licensee, pipeline licensee, or the holder of the special prospecting authority or access authority from compliance with –

any of the conditions to which the permit, lease, licence, pipeline licence, special prospecting authority, or access authority is subject, upon such conditions, if any, as the Minister determines and specifies in the instrument.

(2)  Subsection (1) does not authorize the making of an instrument to the extent that it would affect the term of a permit, lease, licence or pipeline licence.

(3)  Notwithstanding subsection (2) , where in accordance with subsection (1) , the Minister suspends, or exempts the permittee or lessee from compliance with, any of the conditions to which a permit or lease is subject, the Minister may, if he considers that circumstances make it reasonable to do so, in the instrument of suspension or exemption or by a later instrument in writing served on the permittee, extend the term of the permit or lease by a period not exceeding the period of suspension or exemption.