Overview
Australia is currently considering how transboundary offshore Carbon, Capture and Sequestration (CCS) could operate with Singapore as the exporting country. The Australian Government and Singapore agreed1 that they would work to establish a treaty consistent with Australia’s obligations under the London Protocol (described further below).
Transboundary offshore CCS refers to the movement of carbon dioxide (CO2) across international borders for the purpose of permanent offshore geological sequestration. It can provide a carbon management option for hard-to-abate industry, both in Australia and overseas.
Australia is a Contracting Party to the 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972 (London Protocol) – an international agreement for the protection of the marine environment from pollution caused by the dumping of wastes or other matter at sea.
On 7 November 2024, Australia deposited a declaration of provisional application of the 2009 amendment to Article 6 of the London Protocol which allows transboundary offshore CCS to occur provided the protection standards of the London Protocol are fully met. The London Protocol also requires that before any transboundary offshore CCS activity can occur, a bilateral instrument needs to be in place between Australia and the exporting country.
We are seeking your views on transboundary offshore CCS with Singapore – in particular proposed operational provisions, regulatory requirements, economic opportunities, environmental safeguards, and potential impacts on communities and industry.
Prior to entering into force, the treaty text will be subject to parliamentary scrutiny, as part of which the Parliamentary committee invites interested persons and organisations to make submissions. Please refer to the Australian Parliament website for details on that process.
