41Application for licence by holder of permit

41 Application for licence by holder of permit

41 Application for licence by holder of permit

(1) A permittee whose permit is in force in respect of a block that constitutes, or the blocks that constitute, a location may, within the application period, make an application to the Minister for the grant of a licence—

(a) where 9 or more blocks constitute the location concerned—in respect of 5 of those blocks,

(b) where 8 or 7 blocks constitute the location concerned—in respect of 4 of those blocks,

(c) where 6 or 5 blocks constitute the location concerned—in respect of 3 of those blocks,

(d) where 4 or 3 blocks constitute the location concerned—in respect of 2 of those blocks,

(e) where 2 blocks constitute the location concerned—in respect of 1 of those blocks, or

(f) where 1 block constitutes the location concerned—in respect of that block.

(2) A permittee whose permit is in force in respect of blocks that constitute a location—

(a) instead of making an application under subsection (1) in respect of the permittee’s primary entitlement, may, within the application period, make an application to the Minister for the grant of a licence in respect of a number of those blocks that is less than the permittee’s primary entitlement, and

(b) being the holder of a licence referred to in paragraph (a), may, from time to time within that period, make an application to the Minister for the variation of that licence to include in the licence area a number of those blocks that does not exceed the number, if any, by which the holder’s primary entitlement exceeds the number of blocks in respect of which that licence was granted and the number of blocks, if any, included in that licence by reason of any previous variations of that licence.

(3) Where—

(a) a permittee makes an application under subsection (1) in respect of the permittee’s primary entitlement, or

(b) a permittee who is the holder of a licence in respect of a number of blocks that is less than the permittee’s primary entitlement makes an application under subsection (2) for a variation of that licence, and the number of blocks in respect of which that licence was granted, together with the number of blocks included, and sought to be included, in the licence area by reason of applications under that subsection, is the permittee’s primary entitlement,