Wales Act 2017

25 Onshore petroleum: right to use deep-level land in Wales

(1) The Infrastructure Act 2015 is amended as follows.

(2) In section 45 (payment schemes relating to right to use deep-level land for purposes of exploiting petroleum or geothermal energy)—

(a) in subsection (1), for “the right of use” substitute “—

(a) the right to use deep-level land in England for the purposes of exploiting petroleum, and

(b) the right to use deep-level land for the purposes of exploiting deep geothermal energy.”;

(b) after subsection (1) insert—

“(1A) The Welsh Ministers may, by regulations, require relevant energy undertakings to make payments in respect of the proposed exercise, or exercise, of the right to use deep-level land in Wales for the purposes of exploiting petroleum.”

(3) In section 46 (notice schemes relating to right to use deep-level land for purposes of exploiting petroleum or geothermal energy)—

(a) in subsection (1), for “the right of use” substitute “—

(a) the right to use deep-level land in England for the purposes of exploiting petroleum, and

(b) the right to use deep-level land for the purposes of exploiting deep geothermal energy.”;

(b) after subsection (1) insert—

“(1A) The Welsh Ministers may, by regulations, require relevant energy undertakings to give notice of the proposed exercise, or exercise, of the right to use deep-level land in Wales for the purposes of exploiting petroleum.”

(4) In section 49 (advice on likely impact of onshore petroleum on the carbon budget)—

(a) in subsection (1), after “activity” insert “in England”;

(b) in subsection (3), after “effect” insert “in England”;

(c) in subsection (7), for the definition of “petroleum got through onshore activity” substitute—

• ““petroleum got through onshore activity in England” means petroleum got from the strata in which it exists in its natural condition by activity carried out on land in England (excluding land covered by the sea or any tidal waters);”.