PETROLEUM (EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION)

CHAPTER 61:02
PETROLEUM (EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION)

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

    SECTION

PART I
PRELIMINARY

    1.    Short title

    2.    Vesting of petroleum, etc.

    3.    Interpretation

    4.    Service of documents

PART II
ADMINISTRATION

    5.    Commissioner for Petroleum Exploration and Production

    6.    Performance of Commissioner’s functions, etc.

    7.    Information not to be disclosed

    8.    Public officers holding certain shares to notify Minister

    9.    Indemnity of public officers

PART III
LICENCES

Division 1
General

    10.    Agreements with respect to the grant licences

    11.    Applications

    12.    Power of Minister to obtain information concerning applications, etc.

    13.    Restriction on persons to whom licence may be granted

    14.    Form of licence

    15.    Restriction on exercise of rights by holder of licence

Division 2
Petroleum Exploration Licence

    16.    Disposal of application for petroleum exploration licence

    17.    Content of petroleum exploration licence

    18.    Rights conferred by petroleum exploration licence

    19.    Application for renewal of petroleum exploration licence

    20.    Grant or refusal of renewal of petroleum exploration licence

    21.    Term of petroleum exploration licence

    22.    Duties of licensee

    23.    Relinquishment of part of exploration area

Division 3
Discovery of Petroleum

    24.    Discovery of petroleum to be notified

    25.    Discovery of petroleum of potential commercial interest

    26.    Investigations

Division 4
Petroleum Production Licence

    27.    Application for petroleum production licence

    28.    Disposal of application for petroleum production licence

    29.    Restriction on grant of petroleum production licence

    30.    Content of petroleum production licence

    31.    Rights conferred by petroleum production licence

    32.    Application for renewal of petroleum production licence

    33.    Grant or refusal of renewal of petroleum production licence

    34.    Term of petroleum production licence

Division 5
Miscellaneous

    35.    Directions

    36.    Compliance with directions

    37.    Unit development

    38.    Directions as to recovery of petroleum

    39.    Penalty for late payments

    40.    Information to be furnished, etc.

Division 6
Cancellation and force majeure

    41.    Cancellation

    42.    Force majeure

PART IV
FINANCIAL

    43.    Royalty on petroleum recovered under licence

    44.    Prohibition on disposal of petroleum

    45.    Remission of royalty, etc.

    46.    Security for compliance and recovery of royalty

PART V
PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND WORK PRACTICES

Division 1
General

    47.    Protection of natural resources to be taken into account

    48.    Work practices for holder of licence

    49.    Maintenance, etc., of property

    50.    Drilling near boundaries

    51.    Removal of property, etc., by holder of licence

    52.    Removal, disposal and sale of property

    53.    Costs and expenses of removal, disposal and sale of property

Division 2
Civil liability for pollution

    54.    Definition

    55.    Liability for petroleum pollution

    56.    Exemption from liability under section 55

    57.    Other liability not affected

    58.    Limitation

    59.    Liability for cost of preventive measures where section 55 does not apply

    60.    Saving of recourse action

    61.    Compulsory insurance against liability for pollution

    62.    Rights of third parties against insurers

PART VI
RESTRICTIONS AND SURFACE RIGHTS

    63.    Restriction on exercise of rights in relation to certain land

    64.    Right to graze stock, etc.

    65.    Compensation for disturbance of rights, etc.

    66.    Notice of intention to commence exploration or production operations

PART VII
GENERAL

    67.    Control of company not to be given without consent of Minister

    68.    Scientific investigation

    69.    Discovery of mineral to be notified

    70.    Powers of Commissioner and authorized officers

    71.    Removal of petroleum

    72.    Acquisition of land

    73.    Identity of person exercising certain rights to be established

    74.    Obstruction of licensee

    75.    Offence committed by body corporate

    76.    Miscellaneous offences

    77.    Licensee to indemnify Republic

PART VIII
REGULATIONS

    78.    Regulations

PART IX
MISCELLANEOUS

    79.    Minister to act subject to the directions of the Life President

        SCHEDULE    S. 23

        Relinquishment

2 of 1983
G.N. 36/1984

    An Act to make provision with respect to searching for and producing petroleum, and to provide for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto

1.    Short title

    (1) This Act may be cited as the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act.

2.    Vesting of petroleum, etc.

    (1) The entire property in, and control over, petroleum in land in Malawi is vested in the Life President on behalf of the people of Malawi; but without prejudice to the exercise of any right under or pursuant to this Act.

    (2) Subject to section 68, no person shall carry on in Malawi exploration or production operations, except under, and in accordance with, a licence.

    (3) Any person who contravenes subsection (2) is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction—

    (a)    in the case of…