With the purpose of harmonizing the Cypriot legislative framework with EU Directive 94/22/EC, The Council of Ministers, in the exercise of the powers vested in it by section 30 of the Hydrocarbons (Prospection, Exploration and Exploitation) Law, hereby makes the present Regulations. Section 3 establishes that the Minister shall keep a register of hydrocarbons, in such form as he may determine with an Order. All applications, executions, grants, modifications, transfers, assignments, relinquishments, renewals, extensions, terminations, cancellations and any other related information regarding authorizations and related hydrocarbon contracts shall be entered in the register of hydrocarbons by dates. The Council of Ministers may determine the areas within the territory to be made available for the intended exercise of the activities of prospecting, exploring for and exploiting hydrocarbons (section 4). The conditions and requirements contained in the authorization for exploration and in the authorization for exploitation shall be stated explicitly in a Contract concluded between the Government of the Republic and the holder of an authorization (section 5). Applications submitted for an authorization for prospection, pursuant to section 5 of the Law, must contain the required general information established under section 6. Regarding the grant of an authorization, the Minister shall negotiate the terms and provisions of the contract with the selected applicant (section 7). The duration of an authorization for prospection shall be granted for a period not exceeding one year (section 8). An authorization for exploration shall be granted for an initial period not exceeding three years and may be renewed for up to two terms (section 9). Upon each renewal of the authorization for exploration, the holder of an authorization is obliged to proceed to the relinquishment of the area (section 10); The duration of an authorization for exploitation for each exploitation area shall not exceed twenty-five years and may be renewed for a period up to ten years, subject to the terms of the Contract (section 11). The transfer of an authorization and assignment of rights arising from an authorization is dealt with in section 12. Every holder of an authorization shall carry out hydrocarbons operations in a proper, safe and workmanlike manner and in accordance with good oilfield practices (section 13); the directions of the Minister to holders of an authorization in case of contravention of Regulation 13 is laid down in section 14. The holder of an authorization shall ensure that hydrocarbons operations are conducted in an environmentally acceptable and safe manner (section 15). Unless the Minister deems otherwise, on expiry of the time-period or termination of an authorization, the holder of an authorization is bound to remove all equipment, installations, etc. and to perform all necessary site restoration activities (section 16). Any drilling operations must be done in conformity with generally accepted international petroleum industry practice (section 17); Prior to the abandonment of any well, the holders of an authorization are bound to inform the Minister in writing of their intention to do so (section 18); Rules for construction and maintenance of installations, pipelines and related equipment are set forth in section 19; An obligation for measurement of hydrocarbons is set forth in section 20. Every operator is bound to keep records of his activities. The general information required is specified in sections 22 and for hydrocarbons production, in section 24. Also, The holders of an authorization are bound to inform the Minister of all major developments in relation to the course of hydrocarbons operations (section 23). The obligations in case of termination of an authorization are set out in section 25. Subject to the provisions of section 20 of the Law, all returns, reports, plans, data and other information submitted to the Minister pursuant to these Regulations shall be treated as confidential (section 26).