Policy paper

UK–Belgium carbon capture, usage and storage arrangement

Published 16 June 2026

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Minister for Energy and Climate of the Flemish Region, the Federal Minister for the North Sea of Belgium, the Minister for Energy and Climate of the Walloon Region on cross-border transportation of CO₂ with the purpose of permanent geological storage.

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The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (“the United Kingdom”), the Minister for Energy and Climate of the Flemish Region, the Federal Minister for the North Sea of Belgium, and the Minister for Energy and Climate of the Walloon Region (hereinafter referred to individually as a “Participant” and collectively as the “Participants”),

In pursuit of the long-term temperature goal of the Paris Agreement on climate change adopted at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (“UNFCCC”) in Paris on 12th December 2015, hereinafter the “Paris Agreement”,

Taking into account the precautionary approach stated in Principle 15 of the Rio Declaration, adopted at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development,

Recalling the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic of 1992, Articles 4 and 5, Annex II and Annex III, which establishes requirements for the exception to the prohibition of dumping of all wastes or other matter for carbon dioxide streams from carbon dioxide capture processes for storage into sub-soil geological formations, including that they are intended to be retained in these formations permanently and will not lead to significant adverse consequences for the marine environment, human health and other legitimate uses of the maritime area,

Also recalling the 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter 1972, hereinafter the “London Protocol”, as amended in 2006 by Resolution LP.1(1) recognising that carbon dioxide (“CO₂”) streams from carbon dioxide capture processes for sequestration may be considered for dumping,

Further recalling Resolution LP.3(4) to the London Protocol, adopted on 30th October 2009, on an amendment to Article 6 to allow the export of CO₂ for the purpose of permanent geological storage in sub-seabed geological formations provided an agreement or arrangement has been entered into by the countries concerned,

Emphasising Resolution LP.5(14) to the London Protocol, adopted on 11th October 2019, allowing provisional application of the 2009 amendment to Article 6 set out in Resolution LP.3(4), pending its entry into force, by those Contracting Parties which have deposited a declaration on provisional application of that amendment,

Confirming that the United Kingdom and Belgium have declared such provisional application in accordance with Resolution LP.5(14),

Underlining the willingness of the Participants to share information on their provisional application of the 2009 amendment to Article 6,

Emphasising the permitting responsibilities of each Participant’s appropriate authorities (hereinafter referred to as “competent authorities”), in accordance with the provisions of the London Protocol, including Article 4, in conjunction with Annexes 1 and 2, and Article 9.

Also emphasising the importance of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in achieving the climate goals of the United Kingdom and the European Union (“EU”),

Mindful of Directive 2009/31/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the geological storage of carbon dioxide and amending Council Directive 85/337/EEC, European Parliament and Council Directives 2000/60/EC, 2001/80/EC, 2004/35/EC, 2006/12/EC, 2008/1/EC and Regulation (EC) No 1013/2006, hereinafter the “EU CCS Directive”,

Also mindful of Part 1, Chapter 3 of the Energy Act 2008, The Storage of Carbon Dioxide (Licensing etc.) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/2221) and the Storage of Carbon Dioxide (Licensing etc.) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 (S.S.I. 2011/24), which provide for the permitting of the geological storage of carbon dioxide,

Also mindful of Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13th October 2003 establishing a system for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Union and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC, hereinafter the “EU ETS Directive”,

Also mindful of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/1265), establishing an emissions trading scheme in the United Kingdom, covering greenhouse gas emissions from power and heat generation, energy intensive industries and aviation, hereinafter the “United Kingdom ETS Order”,

Conscious of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2066 of 19th December 2018 on the monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions pursuant to the EU ETS Directive and amending Commission Regulation (EU) No 601/2012, hereinafter the “EU MRR”,

Also conscious of Article 24 of the United Kingdom ETS Order which gives effect to the EU MRR for the purposes of the United Kingdom’s emissions trading scheme subject to the modifications set out in Article 24, including the modifications in Schedule 4 to the United Kingdom ETS Order,

Also conscious that emissions associated with cross-border CO₂ transport and storage will be reported in greenhouse gas inventories in accordance with the 2006 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Guidelines and any further refinements or iterations agreed under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement,

Acknowledging Article 1(3)(h) of Regulation (EU) 1013/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on shipments of waste, and Article 2(2)(h) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 of the European Parliament and of the Council on shipments of waste (amending Regulations (EU) 1257/2013 and (EU) 2020/1056 and repealing Regulation (EU) 1013/2006), which exclude from the scope of those Regulations shipments of CO₂ for the purposes of geological storage in accordance with the EU CCS Directive,

Also acknowledging Regulation (EC) 1013/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2006 on shipments of waste as it has effect in the United Kingdom as assimilated EU law and acknowledging in particular Article 1(3)(h) of the Regulation as amended by the International Waste Shipments (Amendment)(EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/590), excluding from the scope of that Regulation in the United Kingdom shipments of CO₂ for the purposes of geological storage in accordance with the EU CCS Directive  or Chapter 3 of Part 1 of the Energy Act 2008,

Also acknowledging the requirements of the London Protocol, other international law and the applicable EU law, Belgian federal and regional laws and law of the United Kingdom regarding the permanent storage of CO₂ streams from CO₂ capture processes and the transport of CO₂ between the territories of the United Kingdom and Belgium for this purpose, with respect to permitting responsibilities and the issuing of permits and authorisations, and the relevant monitoring plans,

Recognising the importance of other relevant international frameworks and the necessity to ensure that activity within scope of this MoU remains compatible with relevant commitments undertaken pursuant international law, applicable EU legislation and the law of the United Kingdom, now and in the future,

Recalling the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland cooperation towards decarbonisation and future electricity interconnection, signed on 23 February 2022, including CCS and the transport of CO₂ between their countries;

Have reached the following understanding:

Section 1 – Scope

This MoU is an arrangement for the purpose of Article 6, paragraph 2 of the London Protocol, as amended by Resolution LP.3(4). Any definitions used are to be understood  in the context of the London Protocol and applicable law of the EU or United Kingdom as appropriate.

This MoU applies to the cross-border transportation of CO₂ between the territories of the Participants for the purpose of permanent geological storage in sub-seabed geological formations.

Section 2 – Allocation of permits

The Participants confirm that necessary permitting procedures for the activities are in place and that the permits issued by the competent authorities of the Participants will comply with the provisions of the London Protocol, including Article 4, Article 9 and Annex 2, and other applicable international law.

The Participants recognise that all necessary permit responsibilities will be allocated to the relevant competent authorities of each Participant’s territory in accordance with the London Protocol. A current list of competent authorities is as follows:

For the United Kingdom:

1. Carbon dioxide storage licensing and permitting

• Carbon dioxide storage and pipeline authorisation permits: The Oil and Gas Authority operating as the North Sea Transition Authority is the licensing authority for offshore carbon dioxide storage activities (except in, under or over the territorial sea adjacent to Scotland) and approves and issues carbon dioxide appraisal and storage licences and carbon dioxide storage permits. It also issues pipeline works authorisations for the construction and use of subsea pipelines in the territorial sea adjacent to the United Kingdom and on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf:

North Sea Transition Authority
3rd Floor
1 Marischal Square
Broad Street
Aberdeen
AB10 1BL

Email: correspondence@nstauthority.co.uk

Tel: 0300 020 1010 or 0300 020 1090

• Carbon dioxide storage permits in Scotland: The Scottish Ministers are the licensing authority for offshore carbon dioxide storage activities in, under or over the territorial sea adjacent to Scotland, and they approve and issue carbon dioxide appraisal and storage licences and carbon dioxide storage permits:

Scottish Ministers
Scottish Government
St Andrew’s House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG

Email: ces@gov.scot

Tel: 0330 244 4000

• Environmental permits for carbon dioxide storage and transport: The Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED), on behalf of the Secretary of State and part of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, regulates offshore oil and gas activities, including CCS, in the territorial sea and on the UK continental shelf, to ensure environmental protection during operations and end of life decommissioning. OPRED’s responsibilities include ensuring certain decommissioning financial obligations are met.

Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
AB1 Building
Crimon Place
Aberdeen
AB10 1BJ

Email: opred@energysecurity.gov.uk

2. Competent authorities responsible for issuing UK Emissions Trading Scheme permits in the UK for a purpose connected with an activity referred to in section 17(2) of Energy Act 2008 (storage of carbon dioxide)

• OPRED, on behalf of the Secretary of State, issues ETS permits offshore in the territorial sea adjacent to England, and the UK sector of the continental shelf.

Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
AB1 Building
Crimon Place
Aberdeen
AB10 1BJ

Email: opred@energysecurity.gov.uk

• Environment Agency issues ETS permits for installations in England.

Environment Agency (EA) (England)
Horizon House
Deanery Road
Bristol
BS1 5AH

Email: LegalSupport@environment-agency.gov.uk

• Scottish Environment Protection Agency issues ETS permits for installations in Scotland, controlled waters adjacent to Scotland, and the territorial sea (other than controlled waters) adjacent to Scotland.

Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) (Scotland)
Angus Smith Building
Unit 6
4 Parklands Avenue
Eurocentral
Holytown
North Lanarkshire
ML1 4WQ

Email: serviceonsepa@sepa.org.uk

• Natural Resources Wales issues ETS permits for installations in Wales, and the territorial sea adjacent to Wales.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) (Wales)
Welsh Government Offices
Cathays Park
King Edward VII Avenue
Cardiff
CF10 3NQ

Email: enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk

• Northern Ireland Environment Agency issues ETS permits for installations in Northern Ireland, controlled waters adjacent to Northern Ireland, and the territorial sea (other than controlled waters) adjacent to Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) (Northern Ireland)
17 Antrim Road
Tonagh, Lisburn
County Antrim
BT28 3AL

Email: nieainfo@daera-ni.gov.uk

3. Other competent authorities

• The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency is responsible for establishing and implementing the technical rules and regulations a seagoing vessel has to comply with when shipping CO₂.

For Belgium:

• Flemish Provincial Executive(s) of the Provincial Council(s) are responsible for the issuance of (amongst other) ETS permits. ETS permits are issued based on an obligatory advice issued by the Flemish Energy and Climate Agency (Vlaams Energie-en Klimaatagentschap), which is also responsible for the implementation of ETS.

Flemish Energy and Climate Agency (Vlaams Energie-en Klimaatagentschap)
Koning Albert II-laan 15, box 460
1210 Brussels

Tlf +32 2 553 46 00

veka@vlaanderen.be

• Walloon Municipalities or Permit and Authorisation Department are responsible for the issuance of (amongst other) ETS permits. ETS permits are issued based on an obligatory advice issued by the Air & Climate Agency of Wallonia (Agence wallonne de l’Air et du Climat) which is also responsible for the implementation of ETS.

Air & Climate Agency of Wallonia (Agence wallonne de l’Air et du Climat)
Avenue du Prince to Liège 7,
5100 Jambes

ets.awac@spw.wallonie.be

• The Flemish and Walloon governments are responsible for the issuance of CO₂ storage permits.

• The Belgian federal maritime authorities are responsible for determining the technical rules and regulations a seagoing vessel has to comply with when shipping CO₂.

• The federal public service Economy, S.M.E.’s, Self-employed and Energy, Directorate General Energy, Department Molecules, Offshore & Permits, is responsible for the offshore pipeline-laying permits.

• The federal public service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment, DG Environment, Marine Environment, and the Marine Environment Department and the Scientific Service Management Unit of the North Sea Mathematical Models (MUMM) of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences are responsible for the offshore marine environment permits.

Section 3 – Arrangements of the Participants

This MoU does not create any rights or obligations under international or domestic law and does not impose any financial obligations on the Participants. This MoU does not affect or interfere with existing or future regional, national, European or international obligations regarding the transportation and storage of CO₂. This MoU is an arrangement for the purpose of Article 6, paragraph 2 of the London Protocol, as amended by Resolution LP.3(4), but does not affect the Participants’ rights and obligations derived from other international agreements and conventions to which they are parties. Nothing in this MoU affects their obligations under national laws.

Section 4 – Amendment procedures and mutual understanding

This MoU may be amended at any time by the joint written consent of the Participants. The amendments will come into effect upon signature by all Participants.

At any time, the Participants will consult, at the request of either of them, on any matter relating to this MoU, in the spirit of cooperation, good faith and mutual trust, to resolve quickly any difficulties or misunderstandings that may arise.

The Participants will convene at least once a year to evaluate the MoU, unless they decide not to convene by joint written consent. The meeting will be held alternately in London and Brussels, or in any other place jointly decided upon by the Participants in writing, including remotely by video conference. The agenda, location and time of the meetings, and who will chair them, will be jointly decided by the Participants. Each Participant will bear its own costs incurred in connection with the meetings.

Section 5 – Final provisions

This MoU will come into effect upon signature by all Participants.

The Participants may jointly decide in writing to terminate this MoU at any time. This MoU may also be terminated by either Participant giving three (3) months’ written notice to the other Participant. The termination of this MoU will not affect any on-going activities under this MoU, unless otherwise decided by the Participants.

The Participants will notify the International Maritime Organization of this MoU in accordance with Article 6 of the London Protocol as amended by Resolution LP.3(4).

Signed in Brussels on the 16 of June 2026 in the English language.

For the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland:

Minister of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

The Minister for Energy and Climate of the Flemish Region

The Federal Minister of the North Sea of Belgium

The Minister for Energy and Climate of the Walloon Region