Resource information
This Act makes provision for various matters relating to the activity of exploration and exploitation of petroleum resources in Botswana including licensing, control, surface rights, survey of wells, protection of the environment and compulsory acquisition of land.The Act sets out criteria and conditions for the granting of an exploration or a development licence. The Minister may enter into an agreement with a (potential) licence holder. A registered holder of an exploration licence shall notify the Minister on the discovery of petroleum in an exploration area. The Minister shall publish the nomination of a discovery block in the Official Gazette. After the nomination, the Minister may direct the holder of a registered licence to carry out investigations, including an environmental impact assessment, regarding the feasibility of the development of petroleum recovery activities in the discovery block. That registered holder may apply, at certain conditions, for the grant of a development licence in respect of the investigated petroleum reservoir. The Act sets out certain restrictions that may be applied to development rights of the holder. These restrictions concern, among other things, the use of rights in respect of land used for agricultural, land as defined in the Water Act or protected areas. The Act grants various powers for the control of petroleum development activities to the Minister.Other provisions of this Act concern, among other things, the power of the President to compulsorily acquire land for petroleum, the rights to graze stock or to cultivate land in an exploration or a development area, acquisition of exclusive rights by a registered holder of a development licence and the payment of compensation.
