13Application for exploration licence

#### 13 Application for exploration licence 13 Application for exploration licence > > (1) Any person may apply for an exploration licence. > > > (2) To avoid doubt, the owner of privately owned minerals may apply for an exploration (mineral owner) licence or any other exploration licence with respect to those minerals. > > > > Note. > > > > The owner of privately owned minerals may choose to apply for an ordinary exploration licence with respect to those minerals, rather than an exploration (mineral owner) licence. In relation to exploration (mineral owner) licences see section 24 (4). > > > (3) An application that relates to land in a mineral allocation area may not be made, except with the Minister’s consent, in relation to any group of minerals that includes an allocated mineral. > > > (3A) An application that relates to land in a controlled release area may not be made in relation to any group of minerals that includes a controlled release mineral except— > > > > > (a) pursuant to an invitation under Schedule 1A (Competitive selection process for controlled release prospecting titles), or > > > > > (b) under section 13C (Application for operational allocation licence by existing authority holders), or > > > > > (c) by the Secretary on behalf of the Crown under section 13D (Crown pre-competitive exploration licences). > > > (4) An application for an exploration licence must— > > > > > (a) be lodged with the Secretary, and > > > > > (b) be accompanied by the application fee prescribed by the regulations, and > > > > > (c) be accompanied by the information, if any, specified by the regulations, and > > > > > (d) if the application is for an exploration (mineral owner) licence with respect to privately owned minerals that have more than one owner, be made by all the owners. > > > > Note. > > > > Section 129A requires an application for an exploration licence to be accompanied by a proposed work program. > > > (5), (6) (Repealed) > > **s 13:** Am 1996 No 137, Sch 1 \[15\]. Subst 2008 No 19, Sch 1 \[8\]. Am 2015 No 39, Sch 1 \[1\]; 2015 No 40, Sch 1 \[1\] \[2\]; 2017 No 27, Sch 1 \[3\]; 2022 No 21, Sch 1\[7\] \[8\].