PETROLEUM AND GEOTHERMAL ENERGY RESOURCES ACT 1967 - SECT 133

PETROLEUM AND GEOTHERMAL ENERGY RESOURCES ACT 1967 - SECT 133

133 .         Holders of existing instruments may be granted permits under this Part

        (1)         A person who —

            (a)         is the holder of a prescribed instrument on the commencing day; or

            (b)         was the holder of such an instrument that expired at any time within one month before that day,

                may make one or more applications for the grant of a permit.

        (2)         An application under subsection (1) may be made only in respect of a single area that is constituted by —

            (a)         the whole or any part of the area (in this subsection referred to as the former area ) to which the prescribed instrument relates or related; or

            (b)         the whole or any part of the former area and, in addition, so much of the area of any block, being a block that is constituted as provided by section 27 and is partly included in the former area, as is not included in the former area,

                but excluding any area in which a person other than the applicant is entitled by reason of an instrument granted or issued under this Act or under the former provisions to prospect for or explore for petroleum as defined by this Act, or by the former provisions, as the case may be, or to carry on operations for the recovery of petroleum as so defined.

        (3)         The application —

            (a)         shall be made within 6 months after the commencing day, or within 3 months after the date of the expiration of the prescribed instrument, whichever is the earlier; and

            (b)         shall be accompanied by a fee of $300.

        (4)         The Minister may grant to a person by whom an application under this section is made an exploration permit for petroleum in respect of a single area constituted by the whole or any part of the area in respect of which the application is made.

        (5)         Where a permit is not granted on an application under this section, the applicant is not entitled to the refund of the fee, or any part of the fee, accompanying the application.

        (6)         A permit shall not be granted under this section if the applicant does not, where so required by the Minister, lodge with the Minister a security for compliance with the conditions to which the permit shall be from time to time subject and with the provisions of this Part and of the regulations.

        (7)         Upon the grant of a permit on an application made under this section, the prescribed instrument held by the applicant shall be deemed to have been surrendered by the holder of the prescribed instrument.

        [Section 133 amended: No. 69 of 1981 s. 34.]