24Renewal of licence

24 Renewal of licence

(1)  The Regulator, within 40 business days of –

(a) receiving an application under section 23(1) or (2) in relation to a licence; or

(b) the provision of any further relevant information required under section 23(7) in relation to an application under section 23(1) or (2) in relation to a licence –

whichever is the later, must determine the application by approving, or refusing to approve, the renewal of the licence or the renewal of so much of the licence as does not authorise the carrying out of an activity specified in the application, respectively.

(2)  The Regulator must determine under subsection (1) an application under section 23(1) or (2) in relation to a licence by renewing the licence, or so much of the licence as does not authorise the carrying out of an activity specified in the application, as the case may be, unless the Regulator is satisfied that –

(a) the applicant has been guilty of a material contravention of a requirement imposed by or under this Act, or any other Act, in connection with the gas activities under this Act and is satisfied that the contravention is such that the licence ought not be renewed; or

(b) if the application had been for the grant of a licence in respect of the operation to which the application relates, the Regulator would not have granted the licence.

(3)  As soon as practicable after determining under subsection (1) an application under section 23(1) or (2) in relation to a licence, the Regulator is to –

(a) notify of the determination the person who made the application and, if the determination was to refuse to renew the licence, the reasons for the determination; and

(b) publish notice of the determination in the Gazette or in another manner that the Regulator considers appropriate.