RULE-29

BALOCHISTAN MINERAL RULES, 2002 BALOCHISTAN MINERAL RULES, 2002 [Gazette of Balochistan, Extraordinary, 9th March, 2002] No. S.O.(MR)4-6/2002, dated 8-1-2002.--In exercise of the powers conferred by section 2, of the Regulation of Mines and Oil-Fields and Mineral Development (Government Control) Act, 1948, (XXIV of 1948) the Government of Balochistan is pleased to make the flowing Rules:-- PART III MINERAL TITLES AND MINERAL CONCESSIONS Division-3 Exploration Licence 29. Application for renewal of exploration licence: (1) Subject to this Rule, the provisions of Rules 26 and 27 shall apply, with necessary modifications, in relation to an application for the renewal of an exploration licence. (2) An application for the renewal of a licence shall - (a) be made not later than ninety days before the expiry date of the licence or such later date, but not later than such expiry date, as the licensing authority may allow, on good cause shown; (b) state the period, not exceeding three years, for which the renewal is required; (c) not be made - (i) in the case of a first renewal, in respect of an area of land greater in extent than fifty per cent of the exploration area at the date of the issue of the licence; (ii) in the case of a second renewal in respect of an area of land greater in extent than fifty per cent of the exploration area immediately prior to the date of that application, or such other proportion of the exploration area as the licensing authority may determine on good technical or other reasonable grounds; or (iii) in the case of a second renewal, unless the applicant can satisfy the authority that such a renewal is necessary for the completion of a full feasibility study of the discovered deposits and that the proposed activities could not have been reasonably completed during the period of the first renewal; (d) be accompanied by a report in duplicate containing the particulars described in Rule 33 (4), prepared in respect of the immediately preceding period of the exploration licence; (e) describe and identify the part of the exploration area to be retained and the part to be relinquished; (f) be accompanied by the proposed work programme and the estimated expenditure for the period of the renewal; and (g) in the case of a second renewal, give the reason for requesting the renewal, supported by documentary proof. (3) Subject to the provisions of sub-rules (4) and (5), the licensing authority shall not grant a renewal of an exploration licence - (a) unless the licensing authority is satisfied on reasonable grounds - (i) with the minimum exploration operations and expenditure proposed to be carried out or expended in the renewal period in respect of the area of land to which the application relates; and (ii) of the matters specified in sub-rule (3) (b) (ii) and (iii); of Rule 27; or (b) if, at the time of the application, the applicant is in default. (4) The licensing authority shall not refuse under sub-rule (3)(a) to grant a renewal of an exploration licence if the proposals in respect of exploration operations and expenditure are in accordance with the terms and conditions of the exploration licence or mineral agreement relating to proposals of that kind. (5) The licensing authority shall not refuse under sub-rule (3)(b) to grant the renewal of an exploration licence, unless the licensing authority has, by notice in writing, informed the applicant of its intention to refuse to grant the renewal - (a) setting out particulars of the alleged default or other grounds for the proposed refusal; and (b) requiring the applicant to make representations to the licensing authority, in relation to the alleged default or other grounds for the proposed refusal or to remedy that default or the ground for the proposed refusal on or before a date specified in the notice and the applicant has failed, or is unable, to remedy that default or other ground or make representations which, in the opinion of the licensing authority, would remove the ground for the proposed refusal. (6) The licensing authority shall not grant a second renewal of all exploration licence unless the applicant - (a) has shown that the renewal sought is necessary for the completion of feasibility studies which could not have been reasonably completed during the period of the first renewal; and (b) satisfies the conditions for renewal in sub-rule (3).