12. Any part of a watercourse with a natural force equal to or greater than 225 kilowatts at its ordinary flow during six months together with a strip of land 20 metres in width on each side of such a watercourse is excluded from the territory subject to a licence.
The Minister may add to the excluded portion any area the Minister considers necessary for the development and utilization of the waterpower. If such an addition is made after the awarding of a licence on the land, the Minister pays compensation to the licence holder.
However, the Minister may, subject to certain conditions, authorize a licence holder to explore for, produce or store petroleum or to produce brine on the land so reserved.
2016, c. 35, s. 232016, c. 35, s. 23.