If the holder of a mining lease or an expired mining lease makes application for a further mining lease, the Minister may, instead of refunding the whole or part of the security deposited in respect of the existing or expired mining lease, retain that security or part thereof (together with any further security fixed by the Minister) as the security (in which case it shall be taken to be or to be part of the security) deposited by the applicant in respect of the further mining lease.