(1)  After considering an application for a licence and any recommendation of the Director and subject to any decision of the Mining Tribunal, the Minister may –

(a) grant the application; or

(b) refuse to grant the application.

(2)  If the Minister intends to grant an application for a licence contrary to the recommendation of the Director –

(a) the Director is to notify that intention in accordance with section 14 (2) and (3) ; and

(b) a person with an interest or estate in the land in respect of which the licence is sought is entitled to object in accordance with section 15 .

(3)  The Minister, by notice in writing, must notify the applicant of –

(a) the grant of the application; or

(b) the refusal to grant the application and the reasons for the refusal.