RULE-31

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 31. Obligations of licensee.- (1) The holder of alt exploration licence shall - (a) commence operations in the exploration area within six (6) month of the issue of the licence and carry on exploration operations in the exploration area in accordance with good exploration practices: (b) take all reasonable steps necessary to secure the safety welfare and health of persons employed for purposes of those operations in the exploration area and to protect the environment: (c) maintain in wood condition and repair all structures equipment and other goods in the exploration area and used in. connection with the exploration operations: (d) remove from the exploration area all structures equipment and other goods not used or attended to be used in connection with the exploration operations: (e) take reasonable steps to earn persons who may from time to time be in the vicinity of any such structures equipment or other goods of the possible hazards resulting there from: (f) allow existing and future title holders of any area which is comprised in or adjoins or is reached by the area to which his title relates, all reasonable facilities of access thereto: (g) notify the licensing authority of the discovery of a deposit of any mineral or group of minerals included in the licence, or of any associated minerals within thirty days after such discovery; (h) notify the licensing authority within ten days after making a discovery of a deposit of any mineral or group of minerals other than a mineral or group of minerals included in the licence: (2) Where the notification referred in paragraph (h) relates to minerals necessary for the generation of nuclear energy as defined in sub-rule (7), notify also the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (3) Where pursuant to - (a) sub-rule (1)(g), the licensee notifies the licensing authority of the discovery of associated minerals; or (b) sub-rule (1)(h), the licensee notifies the licensing authority of the discovery of any mineral or group of minerals not included in the licence, tile licensee; (i) shall submit: with the notification all relevant geological and technical data and a report on the potential commercial value of that deposit: (ii) may, within three months of such notification, apply to the licensing authority for amendment of the licence to include the minerals referred to in sub-rule (3)(a) or (b), and (iii) subject to sub-rule (4), shall have a preferential right to the amendment of the licence. (4) where an application is made, under sub-rule (3) the licensing authority - (a) may in the case of an application relating to a mineral or group of minerals not included in the licence grant the amendment of the licence or issue a separate licence in respect of that mineral or group of minerals; (b) shall in the case of an application relating to associated minerals grant the amendment of the licence if it is satisfied on reasonable grounds that the licensee will; (i) make such alterations in its work programme of exploration operations as are necessary in relation to the associated minerals: or (ii) comply with such terms and conditions as may he required by the licensing authority in relation to the discovery and production of the associated minerals. (5) Where the licensing authority decides to grant an amendment of a licence or to issue a separate licence it shall state the conditions governing such amendment or separate licence. (6) Subject to sub-tile (7), the licensee shall have no rights in respect of a mineral or group of minerals referred to in sub-rule (3) unless the licence is amended or a separate licence is issued in accordance with sub-rule (4). (7) The licensee shall have no rights in respect of minerals referred to in sub-rule (2) without the agreement of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission. (8) The minerals referred to in sub-rule (2) include, but are not limited to uranium, thorium, zirconium, mobium, hafnium, lithium and vanadium.