Part 3: Decommissioning of Energy Installations Commentary on Sections Section 107 and Schedule 5: Minor and consequential amendments
341.Paragraph 10 of Schedule 5 (Minor and consequential amendments) extends the class of persons that can be given a duty to carry out an approved abandonment programme to include licensees who have transferred an interest in the licence to another party without the prior approval of the Secretary of State. This is in line with section 72 subsection (2)(a) of the Energy Act which adds a new paragraph to section 30(1) of the Petroleum Act 1998 to extend the regime to include licensees who have transferred an interest in the licence to another party without the prior approval of the Secretary of State.
342.Paragraph 11 of Schedule 5 (Minor and consequential amendments) inserts text into section 45 of the Petroleum Act 1998 (Interpretation of Part 4) so that the definition of “submarine pipeline” includes a pipeline which is intended to be established. This enables notices under section 29 to be served for submarine pipelines prior to installation, mirroring the existing requirements for offshore installations.