AQW 12119/22-27

Mr Danny Donnelly
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 17/05/2024
Answered On Date: 04/06/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy whether there has been any progress in relation to a decommissioner of last resort strategy.

Answer:

Gas Storage: arrangements for ensuring that gas storage projects can be safely decommissioned, in the event of a project owner or operator being unable to do, have not yet been finalised.

Offshore Renewable Energy Installations (OREI): OREI policy is an essential part of the overall strategic framework for the development of offshore renewable energy projects in the North. My Department published a public consultation on OREI Policy Options which closed on 8th March 2024. This considered potential legislative changes needed and put forward policy options to establish provisions for OREI decommissioning, including decommissioner of last resort as well as safety zones and rights of navigation. Responses to the consultation are currently being considered and a government response will follow in due course.