Confidentiality

(1) All returns, reports, plans and other information submitted under these Regulations shall be treated as confidential by the Government and shall not, unless otherwise provided in a contract, be disclosed to third persons prior to the relinquishment of the area to which they relate or prior to the end of the exploration period if such area is not sooner relinquished, provided that– (a) any surface geological maps and interpretations may be utilized at any time by the Government departments concerned for incorporation into official maps; (b) statistical may be published at any time by the Government in a form which does not disclose the operations of any particular contractor; and (c) the Government may make such returns, reports, plans, data and other information available at any time to professional consultants, legal counsel, accountants, underwriters, lenders and such Government entities as may need to be made aware thereof. (2) No contractor shall, unless otherwise provided in a contract, disclose any returns, reports, plans, data, records and other information compiled, received, maintained or submitted 34 Petroleum pursuant to these Regulations or the terms and conditions of contract without the prior written approval of the Minister, provided that– (a) a contractor may make such returns, reports, plans, records and other information available, without the approval of the Minister, to professional consultants, legal counsel, accountants, underwriters, lenders, companies in which a contractor maintains a controlling interest and such Government entities as may need to be made aware thereof or have the right to require such disclosure; and (b) any disclosure made by a contractor to third parties pursuant to this subregulation shall only be made on terms which ensure that the information so disclosed is treated as confidential by the recipient.