(1) This section shall have effect where, on or after the 14th day of January, 1985, a person, with the consent of the Minister for Energy, makes a disposal of an interest in a licensed area (including the part disposal of such an interest or the exchange of an interest owned by him in one licensed area for an interest in another licensed area) and the disposal is shown to the satisfaction of the said Minister to have been made for the sole purpose of ensuring the proper exploration, delineation or development of any licensed area.
(2) Where this section has effect as respects a disposal by a person (neither being nor including such an exchange as is referred to in subsection (1)) and the consideration received by him is, in the relevant period, wholly and exclusively applied (whether by him, or on his behalf by the person acquiring the asset disposed of) for the purposes of either or both of the following, that is to say:
(a) petroleum exploration activities, and
(b) searching fo