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Minerals Report - International Seabed Authority

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data acquisition, and the company’s previous experience. He said that<br />

prospecting is not exclusive, and that more than one company can prospect<br />

an area.<br />

Dr. Viera de Macedo said that companies are required to send reports<br />

on their operations to ANP. He said that depending on the type of survey<br />

conducted there is confidentiality of the data submitted for periods ranging<br />

from 2 to 10 years. He however said that bathymetric data are not considered<br />

confidential.<br />

He said that concessionaires do not need authorisation for data<br />

acquisition in their concessions.<br />

Dr. Viera de Macedo said that ordinance number 174 of 1999 contains<br />

the requirements for companies to tender bids for blocks of offshore areas.<br />

He said that the company must provide proof of its technical, financial and<br />

legal qualifications. The company must provide proof of its experience in the<br />

work to be undertaken or of the experience of its employees in this regard.<br />

He said that companies are classified to operate any block, some blocks, or as<br />

companies eligible to participate in an operation but not as an operator.<br />

Dr. Viera de Macedo said that the Brazilian concession agreement<br />

contains several interesting exploration provisions. He said that a<br />

concessionaire has no rights over any other minerals in the area except<br />

petroleum and natural gas. The concessionaire has to implement a minimum<br />

exploration programme. Any discovery is to be reported within 72 hours.<br />

While the concessionaire has exclusive rights to operate in the concession<br />

area, except for data acquisition. He said that if the concessionaire is a<br />

consortium of companies, Dr. Viera de Macedo said that the law requires that<br />

one of the companies will have to be nominated as the operator. The<br />

operator then acts on behalf of the consortium. He said that ANP has to be<br />

notified of drilling operations, and ANP oversees all operations in the<br />

concession area. He also said that the concessionaire has to maintain all<br />

information on the concession area for ANP to inspect at all times. Dr. Viera<br />

de Macedo said that ANP might authorize the construction of facilities<br />

outside the concession area, for the logistical operations of the concessionaire.<br />

INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY 845

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