44AExtension of term of licence

44A Extension of term of licence

[Section 44A Inserted by No. 24 of 2013, s. 48, Applied:28 Jun 2013]

(1)  A person may apply to the Minister for an extension of the term of a licence.

(2)  An application is to be –

(a) in an approved form; and

(b) accompanied by the prescribed fee; and

(c) lodged with the Registrar before the licence ceases to be in force.

(3)  The Minister may –

(a) subject to section 44(2) , grant the application for any further period the Minister determines and with or without conditions; or

(b) refuse to grant the application.

(4)  The Minister must grant the application if the Minister is satisfied that –

(a) the exploration to be carried out during the term of the licence has been completed; and

(b) the licensee has submitted any report or return as required; and

(c) the licensee has submitted a suitable program of work for the period of extension; and

(d) further detailed exploration is justified because substantiated results indicate the probability of a discovery leading to profitable mining operations.

(5)  The Minister, by notice in writing, must notify the applicant of –

(a) the grant of the application; or

(b) the refusal to grant the application and the reasons for the refusal.

(6)  A licensee may, within 28 days after receipt of a notice under subsection (5)(b) in relation to an application, appeal to the Mining Tribunal against the Minister's refusal to grant the application.

(7)  Subject to section 44(2) , a licence to which an application under subsection (1) relates remains in force until –