- A Bill that strengthens WA's petroleum legislation passes the Legislative Council
- Amendments enable transport and storage of greenhouse gas
- Bill sets framework for exploration of naturally occurring hydrogen in WA
A Bill that strengthens Western Australia's petroleum legislation and supports the Cook Government's commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 has passed the Legislative Council.
The Petroleum Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 provides WA-based industries with opportunities to decarbonise by providing a legislative framework for the transport and geological storage of greenhouse gases.
Carbon capture and storage is a mechanism being used by industries across the world to decarbonise their operations, a strategy the Cook Government fully supports to help deliver net zero emissions.
The Bill also enables exploration for naturally-occurring hydrogen through the concept of a regulated substance, which is an element that occurs naturally within a natural geological formation. Hydrogen offers a potentially low-emission way to help WA decarbonise, and the Cook Government is aware that industry is interested in exploring for this alternative energy source.
Further amendments support the insertion of polluter pays provisions, royalty metering, underground storage of petroleum and blending of additives in pipelines.
The Bill amends the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Resources Act 1967, Petroleum Pipelines Act 1969 and Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1982.
As stated by Mines and Petroleum Minister David Michael:
"The Cook Government will continue to support industry's efforts to decarbonise, and this Bill represents one of our many responses to climate change.
"By providing the legislative certainty industry needs to develop greenhouse gas storage, this Bill will encourage more projects and deliver the environmental benefits that come with them.
"Reaching the goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 is essential for the growth and diversification of Western Australia's economy."
