Hand-dug oil well bill released
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The government has released a hand-dug oil well bill, which carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison for unlicensed businesses.
Under the bill’s eight chapters and 24 sections, only Myanmar citizens are entitled to speculate for oil and digging is limited to 1,000 feet to allow shallow exploration businesses.
Section 4 of the bill says Myanmar citizens or their organisations may apply to their regional or state governments for the right to run hand-dug oil wells, from where their applications will be forwarded to central government.
According to Section 13, anyone convicted for breaching any provisions will face one to three years in prison, fines of up to Ks5 million or both.
Tools, materials and buildings relating to unlicensed operations will be seized, it says
