Decommissioning

Decommissioning

This is an overview of the key content to be found in our Decommissioning subtopic. It briefly explains the nature of this content and provides links to it.

For more general information on oil and gas licensing and regulation, see subtopic: Oil and gas licensing and regulation—overview.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) was established on 7 February 2023 and has taken over the energy portfolio (including in respect of oil and gas commissioning) of the former Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), which no longer exists.

Decommissioning—introductory Practice Notes

Practice Note: ‘Conventional’ Oil and Gas—An Introduction provides an introduction to the key elements of the ‘conventional’ oil and gas sector, including licensing and regulation, the upstream, midstream and downstream elements of the sector, corporate transactions, health and safety, decommissioning and LNG, and provides links to related, more in-depth content on such topics.

Practice Note: The Energy White Paper—an overview [Archived] considers some of the key measures announced in the Energy White Paper published by the former BEIS on 14 December 2020 and their expected impact on the energy sector. It also provides

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Latest Energy News

European Parliament committees approve ban on Russian gas and oil imports

The European Parliament’s Committees on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) and on International Trade (INTA) have jointly adopted draft legislation to ban imports of Russian natural gas, including pipeline and liquefied natural gas (LNG), from 1 January 2026, with limited exemptions for pre-existing contracts until mid-2026 and early 2027. The proposal also prohibits the storage of Russian-origin gas in EU facilities and extends the ban to Russian oil and petroleum products from the same date. It introduces stricter customs verification of production origin, mandatory authorisation and audits, and measures to prevent circumvention through re-labelling, transit via third countries, or shadow fleets. The Committees removed a clause allowing temporary suspension of the ban for energy security reasons and added penalties for breaches. The draft was approved by 83 votes to 9, with 1 abstention, and negotiations with the Danish Presidency of the Council were authorised. This initiative aims to protect the EU from the weaponisation of energy supplies by the Russian Federation, which intensified following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine and the ensuing manipulation of European gas markets.

Commission and High Representative present new EU global climate and energy strategy

The European Commission and the High Representative have presented a new international strategy for securing Europe’s place in global markets titled EU global climate and energy vision. The strategy uses diplomacy to protect the EU’s core interests, promote fair transition standards and address new security threats. It adds an external dimension to the Clean Industrial Deal and aims to expand the EU’s clean technology manufacturing capacity to 15% of the global market while strengthening industrial competitiveness in line with the Clean Industrial Goal—seeking to fulfil the objectives set out in the Paris Agreement. The European Commission has also published a Questions and Answers page to provide further clarity on the objectives and implementation of the vision

Ofgem consults on licence modifications to implement RESP

Ofgem has launched a consultation on proposed licence modifications designed to implement the Regional Energy Strategic Plan (RESP). The focus is on four specific licence areas: the electricity system operator licence, the gas system planner licence, the standard conditions of the electricity distribution licence, and part D of the standard special conditions of the gas transporters licence. The consultation will close on 28 November 2025.

EA concludes consultation on radioactive waste disposal facilities guidance

The Environment Agency (EA), alongside with the Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), has concluded a consultation on updated guidance for regulating near-surface and geological disposal facilities for solid radioactive waste. The consultation, which ran from 12 November 2024 to 28 February 2025, invited stakeholders to comment on the draft Guidance on requirements for authorisation (GRA) for England, Wales and Northern Ireland and the Staged Regulation Guidance for England, with a separate Scottish consultation addressing near-surface disposal only. The updated guidance replaces the 2009 GRAs and 2012 supplements, providing concise, accessible requirements for environmental permitting, aligning with current UK government policy, international standards and regulatory experience, and clarifying the expectations for operators throughout the development, operation and closure of disposal facilities. A total of 43 responses were received from industry, public bodies and community stakeholders, all published with personal information removed, and these will inform amendments to the guidance, which is expected to be published in 2026 alongside a summary of consultation outcomes. The guidance supports the safe, secure and environmentally protective disposal of solid radioactive waste and reflects the agencies’ commitment to transparency, public engagement and consistent regulation across the UK.