19Renewal of title

19 Renewal of title

19 Renewal of title

(1) The holder of a petroleum title may apply for renewal of the title by application made within the time prescribed by subsection (2) or (2A).

Note—

Schedule 1B contains provisions about the consideration of applications for the renewal of petroleum titles and the grounds for refusal of such applications.

(2) The prescribed time in relation to a special prospecting authority or an exploration licence is not earlier than 2 months and not later than 1 month before the authority or licence ceases to have effect.

(2A) The prescribed time in relation to a petroleum title other than a special prospecting authority or an exploration licence is not earlier than 5 years and not later than 1 year (or, if the term of the title is for 1 year or less, not earlier than 2 months and not later than 1 month) before the title ceases to have effect.

(2AA) An application for renewal of an exploration licence—

(a) may be made in respect of one or more parts (but not more than such number of parts as may be prescribed by the regulations) of the land comprised in the exploration licence when the application for renewal is made, and

(b) if it relates to renewal in respect of part only of the land comprised in the licence—must be accompanied by a description, prepared in the manner prescribed by the regulations, of the land over which renewal of the licence is sought, and

(c) may include a description of any special circumstances that the applicant claims (for the purposes of section 19B) exist that justify the area of land over which the licence is renewed exceeding 75% of the size of—

(i) the area over which the licence was originally granted (in the case of a first renewal of the licence), or

(ii) the area over which its last previous renewal was granted (in any other case).

(2AB) An application for renewal must be accompanied by—

(a) the application fee prescribed by the regulations, and

(b) any information that is prescribed by the regulations.

(2B) After considering an application for renewal of a petroleum title, the Minister—