31Entitlement to apply for lease

31 Entitlement to apply for lease (1) The holder of a geothermal exploration permit or geothermal retention licence may, at any time during the term of the permit or licence, apply to the Minister for the grant of 1 or more geothermal production leases within the permit area or licence area. Note for subsection (1) Notice of the discovery of geothermal energy resources must have been given under section 48. (2) A person who does not hold a permit or licence for a particular area of land may apply for the grant of a lease for the land only if: (a) the land is not within a reserved block or geothermal authority (b) the person satisfies the Minister: (i) of the existence of geothermal energy resources within the land; or (ii) that the person requires the lease to support geothermal energy production in an existing lease area. (3) An applicant for the grant of a geothermal production lease must apply for a lease area sufficient to: (a) cover the maximum extent of the geothermal energy resources within the lease area; and (b) enable future development, production and storage capacity.