52Grant or refusal of renewal of production licence

52 Grant or refusal of renewal of production licence (1) Where, under section 51, the Minister accepts an application by a production licensee for the first renewal of his production licence, (a) shall, where the production licensee has complied with the conditions to which the licence is subject, the lawful directions, if any, given to him by the Minister and this Act; or (b) may, where the production licensee has not so complied and the Minister is satisfied that, although the licensee has not so licence, by notice in writing, inform the licensee that the Minister is prepared to renew the licence. (2) Where, under section 51, the Minister accepts an application by a production licensee for the renewal of his production licence, other than the first renewal of the licence, the Minister may, by notice served on him, inform the production licensee that he is prepared to renew the production licence and, if the production licence is so renewed, it is renewed for such term, not exceeding 25 years, as is specified in the notice. (3) Where, under section 51, the Minister accepts an application by a production licensee for the renewal of his production licence but the production licensee has not complied with the conditions to which his licence is subject, the lawful directions, if any, of the Minister Petroleum Act 1984 48 and this Act and, in the case of an application for the first renewal of the production licence, the Minister is not satisfied that circumstances exist that justify the renewal of the licence, the Minister shall, subject to subsection (4), by notice served on the production licensee, refuse to renew the licence. (3A) A notice of the Minister's refusal to renew a production licence must (4) The Minister shall not refuse to renew a production licence unless he has: (a) by notice served on the production licensee, given not less than 28 days notice of his intention to refuse to renew the licence; (b) served a copy of the notice on such other persons, if any, as he thinks fit; (c) in the notice: (i) given particulars of the reasons for his intention to refuse to renew the licence; and (ii) specified a date on or before which the production licensee may, by notice served on the Minister, submit any matters that he wishes the Minister to consider; and (d) taken into account any matters so submitted to him on or before the specified date by the production licensee or by a person on whom a copy of the notice has been served under paragraph (b). (5) Notices under subsections (1) and (2) shall contain: (a) a statement of the conditions to which the production licence, on its renewal is to be subject; and production licensee does not make a request under subsection (6). (6) Where a production licensee has been served with a notice under subsection (1) or (2), he may, within 28 days after the date of service of the notice on him, by notice served on the Minister, request the Minister to: (a) renew the production licence; or Petroleum Act 1984 49 (b) vary the conditions contained in the notice under that subsection. (7) Where a production licensee has been served with a notice under subsection (1) or (2) and has made a request under subsection (6)(a), within the period referred to in subsection (6), the Minister shall renew the production licence subject to the conditions specified in the notice under subsection (1) or (2), as the case may be. (8) Where a production licensee has been served with a notice under subsection (1) or (2) and has made a request under subsection (6)(b), the Minister shall: (a) consider the request; and (b) by notice served on the licensee, inform him of the conditions to which the licence, on its renewal, is to be subject. (9) Where a production licensee has been served with a notice under subsection (8)(b), he may, within 28 days after the date of service of the notice on him, by notice served on the Minister, request the Minister to renew the licence subject to the conditions specified in the notice under subsection (8)(b). (10) Where a production licensee has served a notice under subsection (9), within the period referred to in that subsection, the Minister shall renew the licence. (11) Where a production licensee has been served with a notice under subsection (1) or (2) but has not made a request under subsection (6), within the period referred to in subsection (6), the (12) Where: (a) an application for the renewal of a production licence has been accepted; and (b) the production licence would, but for this subsection, expire before: (i) the Minister renews, or refuses to renew, the production (ii) the application lapses as provided by subsection (11), Petroleum Act 1984 50 the production licence shall be deemed to continue in force in all respects until: (c) the Minister renews, or refuses to renew, the production (d) the application lapses,