Application for inclusion of additional minerals in licence

(1) This section applies where– (a) the holder of an exclusive prospecting licence or mining licence, in the course of searching for or mining the mineral to which his licence relates, finds another mineral (in this section called an “additional mineral”); and (b) in the circumstances it would be impracticable or impossible to mine the mineral to which the licence relates without also mining that (2) Where this section applies, the holder of the exclusive prospecting licence or mining licence concerned may make application to the Minister for the inclusion in the licence of the additional mineral and the Minister, if satisfied that this section applies, shall approve the application. (3) The Minister is not required to approve an application referred to in sub-section (2), if the applicant is unwilling to make such alterations in his programme of prospecting or 65 mining operations as are reasonably necessary to cover the searching for or mining of the additional mineral. (4) Where the Minister approves an application referred to in sub- section (2), he shall do so subject to the condition that the exclusive right to search for or mine the additional mineral shall arise only where that mineral is found together with a mineral to which the licence otherwise relates in such circumstances that it would not be practicable or possible to mine such last mentioned mineral without also mining the (5) Notice of the Minister’s decision under sub-section (2), shall be given to the holder of the exclusive prospecting licence or, as the case may be, mining licence concerned; and in the event that the Minister approves the application, the licence shall, subject to sub-section (4) of the section, be deemed to relate also to the additional mineral. (6) In any case where this section would not apply by reason of the requirement of sub-section (1) not being met, the Minister may, if he considers that it would be in the interests of the development of the mineral resources of Belize to do so, approve an application by the holder of an exclusive prospecting licence or a mining licence to include a further mineral in the licence; and in that event the licence shall be deemed to relate also to the further mineral, subject to any conditions imposed on the giving of the approval.