Coll 30/123 'Bahrain (Unallotted Zone) Oil Concession: Negotiations with Petroleum Concessions Ltd.' [‎80r] (159/801)

P r-^AsCtst-rodL O
•> INDIA OFFICE The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. .
Oil Concession signed by the Shaikh of Bahrein in favour of the
Eastern and General Syndicate on the 2nd December 1925,*
AGREEMENT between Shaikh Hamad Bin Shaikh Issa Al Khaltfah, Shaikk
of Bahrein of the one part, hereinafter called “the Shaikh,” and the Eastern and
General Syndicate Limited of the other part, hereinafter called “the Company.”
Article I.
The Shaikh grants to the Company by these presents an exclusive exploration
licence for a period not exceeding two years, except as provided for in Article II,
from the date of this Agreement whereby the Company shall be entitled throughout
the whole of the territories under his control to explore and search the surface of such
territories to a depth not exceeding 20 feet for natural gas, petroleum, asphalt, and
ozokerite, and to enjoy the privileges set out in the first schedule to this Agreement;
and he undertakes on behalf of himself and his successors to grant to the Company
the further exclusive licences and privileges set forth below.
Article IL
The exploration licence referred to in the preceding Article may be extended for
a further period of two years on the Company’s showing to the satisfaction of the
Shaikh, acting on the advice of the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , that such
extension is justified.
Article III.
The Shaikh hereby undertakes on behalf of himself and his successors to grant
to the Company, on application, either after the expiry of or during the course of
the period of two years mentioned in Article I or any extension or renewal thereof
as provided for in Article II, a prospecting licence for a further maximum period
of two years, over areas to be selected by the Company with the approval of the
Shaikh and with the cognizance of the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . Under
the terms of this licence the Company shall enjoy the privileges set out in the second
schedule to this Agreement.
Article IV.
The prospecting licence referred to in the preceding Article may be extended
for a further period of two years on the Company’s showing to the satisfaction of
the Shaikh acting on the advice of the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , that
such extension is justified, provided that no extension shall be granted unless the
Company have already erected suitable drilling plant and carried on drilling operations
continuously for at least three months in the original period.
Article V.
The Shaikh hereby undertakes on behalf of himself and his successors, to grant
to the Company on the expiration of the prospecting licence or earlier if application
therefor is made by the Company, a mining lease over an aggregate area not exceeding
100,000 acres divided into not more than three blocks which shall be selected by
the'Company on the terms and in the form of the lease attached as the third schedule
to this Agreement.
Article VI.
Within 60 days from the signature of this Agreement the Company, in considera*
tion of the assistance and protection to be afforded to their employees, shall pay
to the Shaikh the sum of Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. 10,000 and a further sum of Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. 10,000 on
each anniversary of the grant of the exploration licence throughout the currency of
that licence, and on the grant of a prospecting licence under Article III the Company
shall pay to the Shaikh a further sum of Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. 10,000 and in addition a further
sum of like amount on each anniversarj^ of the grant of a prospecting licence through
out the currency of that licence. They shall not be liable to pay any further sums
to the Shaikh unless they receive a mining lease from him ; but if they receive such
mining lease they shall pay him the sums provided in the lease, but no more.
* Received under Despatch No. 6 of 8th March 1926, from the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
to the Secretary of State for the Colonies,
2103 12 8.33