(1) The Minister must decide whether or not to grant the applicant a geothermal permit.
(2) However--
(a) before deciding to grant the geothermal permit, the Minister must decide whether to approve the applicant's proposed initial work program for the permit; and
(b) the Minister can not grant the geothermal permit unless the following apply--
(i) the applicant continues to be an eligible person;
(ii) the proposed work program has been approved;
(iii) the relevant environmental authority has been issued;
(iv) any relevant Water Act authorisation has been issued.
(3) The Minister may, as a condition of deciding to grant the geothermal permit, require the applicant to do either or both of the following within a stated reasonable period--
(a) pay the annual rent for the first year of the geothermal permit;
(b) give, under section 204, security for the geothermal permit.
(4) If the applicant does not comply with the requirement, the application may be refused.