: (1) According to sub-section (1) of Section 9 of the Act, the Government of Nepal shall provide as much public land as required by the contractor for petroleum work, except in the prohibited areas for petroleum work, in such a way that the contractor can use it under the reasonable conditions determined by the Government of Nepal. When such land is no longer required for petroleum work, it will be returned to the Nepalese government.
(2) If the land needed for petroleum work is private land, the contractor can use it by paying reasonable compensation or by making a direct agreement with the land owners or by purchasing it in the name of the Government of Nepal according to the conditions set by the department. If it is not possible or practical to use the land in such a way, the Government of Nepal will acquire such land permanently or temporarily at the expense of the contractor and make it available for use in petroleum operations in accordance with this agreement.