Session 1. Oral Presentation for: Development of Australia’s National Action List for offshore CCS

Presented on 27 May 2025: Session 1 A review of international and domestic policy and legislative requirements by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) identified several requirements for implementation of the 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter 1972 (the London Protocol) for offshore storage of CO2 in Australian waters, including a National Action List (NAL). The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) has been contracted by DCCEEW to undertake a joint program of work on Australia’s offshore carbon capture and storage (CCS) NAL. A literature review has identified components found within CO2 streams, their concentrations and potential impacts to environmental and/or human health. Benchmarking CO2 specifications has been possible by reviewing a wide range of CO2 storage project specifications and shows how these have evolved as CO2 providers have changed and capture technologies have advanced. Appraisal of the potential risks of each incidental associated substance (IAS) within CO2 streams was then considered including assessment of toxicity, pathway to harm, risk to workers and the environment. This has resulted in development of an interim NAL which specifies the levels of allowed contaminants within CO2 streams for offshore sequestration. DCCEEW published the Interim NAL in February 2024. Further work has been ongoing, including incorporating industry feedback on the interim NAL where relevant on an offshore CCS NAL with upper and lower levels of IAS. This presentation will discuss CSIRO’s contribution to the technical aspects of the development and evolution of the interim NAL. To access the Oral Presentation click the link below. To read the full paper click here