Right to conduct petroleum operations

(1) The Government reserves the right to carry out petroleum operations either on its own or by means of contracts with any qualified person. (2) No petroleum operations shall be conducted in Belize by any person other than the Government unless such person has entered into a contract in accordance with this Act, Provided that the Minister, by instrument in writing, may consent to a person conducting scientific investigations for the purpose of collecting information on the geology and petroleum resources of Belize, subject to conditions specified in the instrument. (3) Any person who contravenes subsection (2) of this section, commits an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction, (a) in the case of an individual, to a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000) or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two (2) years, or to both such fine and period of imprisonment; or (b) in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000).