Draft amendments for the Petroleum Bill to promote Western Australia’s (WA) developing hydrogen industry and modernise the rules governing petroleum were announced.
The Petroleum Legislation Amendment Bill (No.2 2022) proposes changes to the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Resources Act 1967 (PGERA), the Petroleum Pipelines Act 1969 (PPA), and the Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1982. (PSLA).
“The McGowan Government is committed to supporting Western Australia’s emerging hydrogen industry and the role it has to play in our State’s clean energy future,” Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston said.
Minister Johnston stated that the Bill would modernise the Petroleum Acts and provide opportunities for WA’s economy to expand and diversify.
The Bill amends the three Petroleum Acts to tackle a variety of urgent petroleum operational-based adjustments dealing with environmental concerns, royalty computation, underground storage, and additives.
It will also make it possible to explore and produce naturally existing hydrogen. The Bill proposes that these activities be regulated under the legal framework of the PGERA and PSLA by establishing a new category of ‘regulated substances.’
“These legislative changes are very important for many renewable hydrogen projects in WA,” Hydrogen Minister Alannah MacTiernan said.
Minister MacTiernan stated that the reforms incorporate hydrogen into a current statutory framework, providing certainty to rising actors.
Stakeholders will now have a 12-week consultation period to offer their opinions on the suggested changes.
“All interested stakeholders are encouraged to have their say on the proposed amendments,” Minister Johnston added.
The deadline for feedback submissions is Friday, 24 February 24.
