Commentary on Sections Section 14: Shippers etc of gas
77.Part 1, Chapter 2, of the Energy Act 2008 (the “2008 Act”) establishes a licensing regime for the storage and unloading of combustible gas. The regime applies to activities within the offshore area comprising both the UK territorial sea and the area extending beyond the territorial sea that constitutes a Gas Importation and Storage Zone (“GISZ”) under section 1(5) of that Act.
78.The section makes an amendment to this Part of the 2008 Act. Third parties who wish to make use of an offshore gas unloading facility operated by another person who has a licence for that facility will no longer be required to have a licence themselves to unload at the facility. Such facilities are used for the importation of gas to the UK mainland. This provision will remove an unnecessary regulatory burden on international maritime transporters of gas wishing to utilise such importation facilities.
79.The section forms part of the law of England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and comes into force on a day to be appointed by the Secretary of State in a commencement order.