(1) If a licence is in
force under section 53(1)(c) or (2) and the licensee has not carried on any
operations for the recovery of petroleum under the licence at any time during
a continuous period of at least 5 years, the Minister may, by written notice
served on the licensee, inform the licensee that the Minister proposes to
terminate the licence after the end of the period of one month after the
notice is served.
(2) At any time after
the end of the period of one month after the notice referred to in subsection
(1) is served on the licensee, the Minister may, by written notice served on
the licensee, terminate the licence.
(3) In working out for
the purposes of subsection (1) the duration of the period in which no
operations for the recovery of petroleum were carried on under a licence, any
period in which no such operations were carried on because of circumstances
beyond the licensee’s control is to be disregarded.
[Section 54A inserted: No. 42 of 2010 s. 108.]