> So back to the question - Mining Plot approval criteria is ...

The mining supervision shall designate a mining lease for exploration and exploitation of definite mineral raw materials, if the applicant:

a) certifies by data of exploration (closing report of exploration or report on asset calculation) that exploitable mineral resources are to be found at the site requested to be delimited by the mining lease,

b) holds the license of environmental protection required for carrying out the activity or, if provided by a separate legal rule, a unified license of use of environment,

c) defines the mining technology wished to be applied by him/her/it (deep mining, open air mining, exploitation by drilling), and certifies the possibility of the fulfilment of exploitation conditions by a technical description, and indicates the date of exploitation according to the time schedule,

d) meets the requirements prescribed in a legal rule for the contents of the documentation of mining lease,

e) certifies, in case of a mining lease planned for deep mining or open air mining, that he/she/it has notified the owners (property managers, users) of the surface real properties, planned to be covered by the mining lease, of the intent to designate a mining lease, furthermore, in case of open air mining, of the method and anticipated date of the use for mining purposes of the individual real properties wished to be affected by the mining operations, in writing, at least 15 days prior to the submission of the application

Back to Toreador :)

"There is a long and clear track record of exploration permits being converted into mining plot designations. Based on information provided by the Hungarian Mining Bureau, since 1991 when MOL (MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas Public Limited Company), formerly the Hungarian state oil company, became a private company, there have been at least 72 mining plots requested, all of which were granted except for eight due to non-compliance to the request for additional information, the lack of a final exploration report, the lack of an environmental license or due to regional incompatibility with the mining rights of another entity."

Administrator: Dr. Kálmán Barátosi
Toreador Hungary Ltd.
To Mr. Travis Wetzlaugk
managing director
Budapest
Szabadság tér 7.
1054

Dear Mr. Wetzlaugk:

In response to your questions dated July 9, 2007 I hereby inform you on the following:

In the period in question as many as 72 requests were filed with the Mining Bureau for the delineation of mining plots. Eight requests were rejected due to non-compliance with the request for additional information, the lack of a final exploration report, the lack of an environmental license, or due to regional incompatibility with the mining rights of another entity.

Please be aware of the above information.

Dated in Budapest on August 13, 2007.

Sincerely yours,
(illegible signature)
Dr. Zoltán Káldi
head department (deputy)