Part 1Gas Importation and Storage

Chapter 1Gas Importation and Storage Zones

1Exploitation of areas outside the territorial sea for gas importation and storage

(1)

The rights to which this section applies have effect, by virtue of this section, as rights belonging to Her Majesty.

(2)

This section applies to the rights under Part V of the Convention that are exercisable by the United Kingdom in areas outside the territorial sea—

(a)

with respect to any of the matters mentioned in subsection (3), or

(b)

for any other purposes connected with any of those matters.

(3)

The matters are—

(a)

the exploitation of those areas for the unloading of gas to installations or pipelines;

(b)

the exploitation of those areas for the storing of gas (whether or not with a view to its being recovered), or the recovery of gas so stored;

(c)

the exploration of those areas with a view to their exploitation as mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b).

(4)

For the purposes of subsection (3), references to gas include any substance which consists wholly or mainly of gas.

F1(5)

The area within which the rights to which this section applies are exercisable (the “Gas Importation and Storage Zone”)—

(a)

is any area for the time being designated under section 41(3) of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (exclusive economic zone), but

(b)

if Her Majesty by Order in Council declares that the Gas Importation and Storage Zone extends to such other area as may be specified in the Order, is the area resulting from the Order.

(6)

In this section—

“the Convention” means the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (Cmnd 8941) and any modifications of that Convention agreed after the passing of this Act that have entered into force in relation to the United Kingdom;

“gas” means any substance which is gaseous at a temperature of 15°C and a pressure of 101.325 kPa (1013.25 mb);

“installation” includes any floating structure or device maintained on a station by whatever means.