Representatives of the Croatian Hydrocarbon Agency (CHA) and the Ministry of Economy actively participated in the third workshop organised within the project “Development of a Regulatory and Policy Framework for the Implementation of CCUS Activities in Croatia”, funded by the European Commission through the Technical Support Instrument (TSI).
The workshop focused on presenting proposals necessary for aligning the CCS value chain with spatial planning documentation and permitting procedures required for the implementation of such projects. Particular emphasis was placed on identifying analogies and the opportunities for appropriate applying legislative and procedural solutions from the hydrocarbons sector to the development of CCS projects.
The workshop also presented key novelties included in the proposed new Law on the Exploration and Exploitation of Energy Georesources related to the geological storage of CO₂.
The newly identified key elements relate to the importance of creating a Development Plan for Geological Storage of CO2, as well as identifiying strategic, innovative, and pilot CCS projects, with the aim of establishing the necessary preconditions for their effective implementation through timely inclusion in spatial plans, environmental impact assessment procedures, and related administrative processes.
The constructive and expert discussion enabled the exchange of experiences, proposals and opinions between representatives of CHA and the Ministry of Economy, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets, the Institute for Spatial Development and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition.
In addition to representatives of the local consultant team ImWay and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the workshop was also attended by representatives of PSP company, as theunderground gas storage operator, and Plinacro, as the gas transmission system operator.
