Permit for mineral resource activities.

No person or vessel in Antarctica shall—

1. (a) drill, dredge or excavate for mineral resources;
2. (b) collect any samples of mineral resources; or
3. (c) do anything for the purpose of identifying specific mineral resource occurrences or deposits, or areas where such occurrences or deposits may be found, except in accordance with a permit issued under this Act: Provided that no permit shall be issued for the purposes of this section unless the Committee is satisfied that the activities shall be carried on only for the purposes—
4. (a) of scientific research; or
5. (b) connected with the construction, maintenance or repair in Antarctica of an Indian station or any other structure, road, runway or jetty maintained by or on behalf of India. Explanation.—For the purposes of this section, “mineral resource” means any natural resource that is neither living nor renewable.