(1) Where, at the
expiration of the period specified in an instrument under section 47(1), only
one application has been made under that subsection in respect of the block
specified in the instrument, the Minister may reject the application or may,
by instrument in writing served on the applicant, inform him that he is
prepared to grant him a licence in respect of that block.
(2) Where, at the
expiration of the period specified in an instrument under section 47(1), 2 or
more applications have been made under that subsection in respect of the block
specified in the instrument, the Minister may reject any or all of the
applications and, if he does not reject all of the applications, may —
(a) if
only one application remains unrejected, by instrument in writing served on
the applicant; or
(b) if 2
or more applications remain unrejected, by instrument in writing served on the
applicant, or on one of the applicants, whose application has not been
rejected and who has specified in his application an amount, or a rate of
royalty, that he would be prepared to pay that is not less than the amount, or
the rate of royalty, specified in the application of any other applicant whose
application has not been rejected,
inform the applicant
—
(c) that
the Minister is prepared to grant to the applicant a licence in respect of
that block; and
(d) that
the applicant will be required to pay —
(i)
the amount specified in the application; or
(ii)
royalty at the rate specified in the application; or
(iii)
royalty at the rate specified in the application and the
amount specified in the instrument under section 47(1),
as the case may be.
[(3), (4) deleted]
(5) An instrument
under any of the preceding provisions of this section shall contain —
(a) a
summary of the conditions subject to which the licence is to be granted; and
(b) a
statement of the balance of the amount, if any, that the applicant will be
required to pay in respect of the grant of the licence to him; and
(c) a
statement to the effect that the application will lapse —
(i)
if the applicant does not make a request under subsection
(6); or
(ii)
in a case where the instrument contains a statement
referred to in paragraph (b), if the applicant does not pay the balance of the
amount referred to in that statement.
(6) An applicant on
whom there has been served an instrument under any of the preceding provisions
of this section may, within a period of 3 months after the date of service of
the instrument on him, or within such further period, not exceeding 3 months,
as the Minister, on application in writing served on him before the expiration
of the first-mentioned period of 3 months, allows —
(a) by
instrument in writing served on the Minister, request the Minister to grant to
him the licence; and
(b) if
the first-mentioned instrument contains a statement of the balance of an
amount that the applicant will be required to pay in respect of the grant of
the licence to the applicant, pay that balance.
(7) Where an applicant
on whom there has been served an instrument under subsection (1) or (2)
—
(a) has
not made a request under subsection (6); or
(b) if
the instrument contains a statement of the balance of an amount that the
applicant will be required to pay in respect of the grant of a licence to the
applicant, has not paid that balance,
within the period
applicable under subsection (6), the application lapses upon the expiration of
that period.
(8) Where the
application of an applicant on whom there has been served an instrument under
subsection (2) lapses as provided by subsection (7), subsection (2) applies in
respect of the application or applications, if any, then remaining unrejected.
[Section 49 amended: No. 12 of 1990 s. 184; No. 28
of 1994 s. 96; No. 42 of 2010 s. 104.]