ANNEX Questionnaire on the implementation of Directive 2009/31/EC on the geological storage of carbon dioxide (‘the Directive’)

4. Selection of storage sites and exploration permits

4.1. Have areas from which storage sites may be selected been determined pursuant to Article 4(1)? Has storage been disallowed in parts or in the whole of the territory of the Member State, its exclusive economic zone and on its continental shelf within the meaning of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos)? Member States are not obliged to justify any such decision, but an indication of which territories are concerned, and why this has been done, would be useful.

4.2. Has an assessment of available storage capacity in parts or in the whole of the territory of the Member State, its exclusive economic zone and on its continental shelf within the meaning of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) been undertaken (Article 4(2))? If so, please indicate how the assessment was carried out and the outcome of such an assessment.

4.3. How does national law ensure that the suitability of a geological formation for use as a storage site is determined in accordance with the criteria specified in Annex I of the Directive?

4.4. In which cases is exploration required for the selection of storage site (Article 5(1))?

4.5. How does national law ensure that exploration and storage permits are open to all entities possessing the necessary capacities and that the permits are granted or refused on the basis of objective, published and non-discriminatory criteria?

4.6. How will the competent authority verify that the volume that is being explored is within the limits of the volume established in the exploration permit (Article 5(3))?

4.7. How does national law ensure that no conflicting uses of the complex are permitted during the period of validity of the exploration permit (Article 5(4))?