Period of validity and renewal of claim

(1) Subject to this Act, a claim registered pursuant to section 74, (a) is valid from the day when the claim was pegged until the 31st March next following that day; and (b) on application made to the Inspector in accordance with the regulations, may be renewed for further periods of twelve months each, commencing on the 1st April in each year. (2) A claim shall not be renewed pursuant to sub-section (1)– (a) unless the Inspector is satisfied that minerals in commercial quantities remain in the claim area; (b) unless the Inspector is satisfied that the applicant has carried on, in good faith, within the limits of his competence and resources, mining operations in the claim area and intends to continue doing so; or (c) if the applicant has not paid the prescribed fees or fails to comply with the prescribed conditions and the Inspector, for reasons to be recorded in writing, is not prepared to waive the default. (3) Where the Inspector has refused to renew a claim on any of the grounds referred to in sub-section (2), the applicant may appeal against the decision to the Minister whose decision shall be final.