Northern Territory Consolidated Acts

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY ACT 2009

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

           Long Title

   PART 1--PRELIMINARY MATTERS

   1.      Short title  
   2.      Commencement  
   3.      Object of Act  
   4.      Definitions  
   5.      Block  
   6.      Reserved block  
   7.      Land to which Act applies  
   8.      Act binds Crown  
   9.      Ownership of geothermal energy  
   10.     Application of Criminal Code  

   PART 2--EXPLORATION FOR GEOTHERMAL ENERGY RESOURCES

           Division 1--Geothermal exploration permits

   11.     Geothermal exploration permit  

           Division 2--Applications for grants of permits

   12.     Invitation to apply for permit for reserved blocks  
   13.     General entitlement to apply for permit  
   14.     Consideration of applications received on same day  
   15.     Public notice of application  
   16.     Objections, submissions and responses  
   17.     Deciding application  

           Division 3--Applications for renewals of permits

   18.     Application for renewal  
   19.     Deciding application  
   20.     Limit on renewals  

   PART 3--EVALUATION OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY RESOURCES

           Division 1--Geothermal retention licences

   21.     Geothermal retention licence  

           Division 2--Applications for grants of licences

   22.     Application for grant of licence  
   23.     Decision to grant licence  
   24.     Effect on geothermal exploration permit and permit area  

           Division 3--Applications for renewals of licences

   25.     When application for renewal of licence to be made  
   26.     Deciding application  
   27.     Limit on renewals  

           Division 4--Requirements for licence holders

   28.     Requirement for commercial viability report  
   29.     Requirement to apply for geothermal production lease  

   PART 4--PRODUCTION OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

           Division 1--Geothermal production leases

   30.     Geothermal production lease  

           Division 2--Applications for grants of leases

   31.     Entitlement to apply for lease  
   32.     Grant of lease  
   33.     Effect of grant of lease  

           Division 3--Payment of royalties

   34.     Liability to pay royalty under lease  

   PART 5--GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR GEOTHERMAL AUTHORITIES

           Division 1--Geothermal authority applications generally

   35.     Making geothermal authority application  
   36.     Applications relating to Aboriginal land or future act  
   37.     Necessary criteria for geothermal authority application  
   38.     Procedure for making and notifying decisions  
   39.     Reasons for refusing geothermal authority application  
   40.     Continuation of geothermal authority until related decision made  

           Division 2--Rights under geothermal authorities

   41.     Rights in connection with occupation of authority area  
   42.     Right to construct road for access to authority area  

           Division 3--Conditions of geothermal authorities

   43.     General conditions  
   44.     Certain conditions extend to operator  
   45.     Compensation for future act  
   46.     Compliance with approved operations plan and Minister's requirements  
   47.     Compliance with other laws  
   48.     Actions following discovery of particular resources  
   49.     Consent required from owners of certain land  
   50.     Consultation with holders of mineral title and petroleum interests  
   51.     Payment of fees  
   52.     Annual report  
   53.     Drill cores, cuttings and other samples  

           Division 4--Variation of conditions of geothermal authorities

   54.     Application to vary conditions of geothermal authority  
   55.     Extension of term of permit after suspension of condition  

           Division 5--Surrender of geothermal authorities or parts of geothermal authorities areas

   56.     Application for acceptance of surrender  
   57.     When Minister may accept surrender  

           Division 6--Cancellation of geothermal authorities or parts of geothermal authorities areas

   58.     Decision to cancel  
   59.     Effect of cancellation of geothermal authority  

           Division 7--Security and compensation

   60.     Security against environmental harm  
   61.     Security for compensation payable under the NTA  
   62.     Form and amount of security  
   63.     Compensation for damage to land  
   64.     Compensation payable under the NTA  

   PART 6--TECHNICAL WORK PROGRAMS AND GEOTHERMAL OPERATIONS PLANS

           Division 1--Technical work programs

   65.     Technical work program  
   66.     Approval of technical work program  

           Division 2--Geothermal operations plans

   67.     Geothermal operations plan  
   68.     Approval of geothermal operations plan  
   69.     Variation of geothermal operations plan  

   PART 7--GEOTHERMAL AUTHORITIES REGISTER

           Division 1--Registration of information relating to geothermal authorities

   70.     Register  
   71.     Evidence and validity of geothermal authority interest  
   72.     Registration of transfer of geothermal authority interest  
   73.     Registration of devolution of interest  
   74.     Notice of registration  
   75.     Correction of register  
   76.     Minister's certificates  
   77.     Application of Law of Property Act 2000  

           Division 2--Caveats

   78.     Lodgment, acceptance and registration of caveat  
   79.     When caveat ceases to be in force  
   80.     Notice of caveat and application for cancellation or removal  
   81.     Effect of caveat on registration of particular dealing  

   PART 8--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

           Division 1--Preliminary matters

   82.     Environmental harm  
   83.     Levels of environmental harm  

           Division 2--Environmental obligations

   84.     General obligation to take care of environment  
   85.     Obligations generally  
   86.     Obligations of owner who has appointed operator  
   87.     Obligations of operator  
   88.     Obligations of workforce  
   89.     Consequence of contravention of environmental obligation  

           Division 3--Environmental offences

   90.     Serious environmental harm – recklessness  
   91.     Serious environmental harm – negligence  
   92.     Material environmental harm – recklessness  
   93.     Material environmental harm – negligence  
   94.     Environmental nuisance – recklessness  
   95.     Environmental nuisance – negligence  

           Division 4--Serious accidents and critical incidents

   96.     Operator must report serious accident or critical incident  
   97.     Operator must investigate serious accident  
   98.     No interference with place of serious accident  

   PART 9--LEGAL PROCEEDINGS, FORFEITURE OR CLAIM FOR DELIVERY OF SEIZED THING AND MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES

           Division 1--Legal proceedings

   99.     Commencing proceedings  
   100.    Continuing offences  
   101.    Liability of executive officers of body corporate  

           Division 2--Forfeiture of and notice to claim seized thing

   102.    Definitions  
   103.    Court may order forfeiture  
   104.    Minister may give notice to claim delivery  

           Division 3--Miscellaneous offences

   105.    Compliance with conditions of authority  
   106.    No activities without authority and approved operations plan  
   107.    No interference with geothermal energy activities or other work  
   108.    Misleading information and document  
   109.    Impersonation  
   110.    Obstruction and abusive language  

   PART 10--ADMINISTRATION

           Division 1--Minister's powers

   111.    Delegation  
   112.    Minister may require further information and prescribed fee  
   113.    Requirements to be in writing  
   114.    Minister may extend time  
   115.    Minister may take action if condition or requirement contravened  
   116.    Guidelines  
   117.    Approval of forms  
   118.    Release and protection of information  

           Division 2--Geothermal energy officers

   119.    Appointment of officers  
   120.    Identity card  
   121.    Functions of officer  
   122.    Powers of officer  

           Division 3--Review of decisions and hearing of other matters

   123.    Regulations may provide for reviews and hearings  

   PART 11--MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

   123A.   Licence not personal property  
   124.    Acquisition on just terms  
   125.    Protection from liability  
   126.    Regulations  
           ENDNOTES