Section Menu

• Gas Infrastructure Projects Contacts

Gas Infrastructure Projects

On 12 January 2006 the then Secretary of State announced (amongst other things) that the DTI would review the current regulations for onshore gas supply infrastructure, in conjunction with the Energy Review and the Barker Review, with a view to updating those regulations where necessary.

In tabling an "Energy Statement of Need for Additional Gas Supply Infrastructure" in the House of Commons on 16 May, the Secretary of State confirmed the Government's intention to review the onshore consents regime.

For the purpose of the review, DTI needs to understand how developers see the regime working for them. We have sent an initial "scoping letter" to developers who are or have been involved with infrastructure consents, as well as to representative organisations. Responses will be used to inform a formal public consultation later this year.

Meanwhile, other interested parties who wish to do so are also welcome to submit comments on the questions in the scoping letter.

In November 2006 the DTI launched a consultation: 'Offshore Natural Gas Storage and Liquefied Natural Gas Import Facilities'. This consultation considers the need for, and requests views on, changes to existing legislation with regard to the following activities:

• the storage of natural gas in non-hydrocarbon features (e.g. salt caverns);
• the storage of natural gas in hydrocarbon features (e.g. partially depleted oil and gas fields); and
• the unloading of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) offshore. 

A preliminary consultation was carried out through the DEFRA Marine Bill consultation, which closed on 23 June 2006.  This consultation seeks views on the more detailed policy options that the DTI is considering.

This consultation runs from 24 November 2006 to 16 February 2007.