A new regulatory framework enabling carbon capture, transport and permanent storage has come into effect in Western Australia, following the commencement of amendments under the Petroleum Legislation Amendment Act 2024.

The changes establish a legal basis for developing a greenhouse gas storage industry, allowing access to geological formations for carbon dioxide storage alongside existing resource activities. The framework also introduces provisions to support the transport of greenhouse gases via pipeline infrastructure.

Under the updated legislation, acreage release and licensing systems can be used to allocate storage sites for greenhouse gases, with accompanying requirements for long-term site management, closure and liability arrangements.

The reforms also extend to broader resource regulation, including updated provisions intended to support emerging hydrogen and helium industries, as part of a wider adjustment of Western Australia’s subsurface resource framework.

According to the Western Australian Government, the changes are intended to provide regulatory certainty for investment in low-emissions technologies, including carbon capture and storage, while enabling the development of associated infrastructure.