Section 61

Where a prospecting licence or exploration licence is revoked or surrendered, no application for either a prospecting licence or exploration licence in respect of the same or any area within or overlapping the previous prospecting or exploration area shall be considered for approval within a period of one year from the date of revocation or surrender, as the case may be.

Notwithstanding section 43, any former holder of a prospecting licence or exploration licence whose licence has reached its maximum total duration of four or fifteen years respectively shall be given priority on an application for either a prospecting licence or exploration licence in respect of the same or any area within or overlapping the previous prospecting or exploration area:

Provided that no such application shall be considered for approval within a period of one year from the date of expiration of the maximum total duration of the said licences.