Today Mr. Malcolm Wicks, the British Energy Minister, and Mr. Odd Roger Enoksen, the Norwegian Minister of Petroleum and Energy, signed a joint declaration on geological storage of CO ₂.

- This joint declaration demonstrates the mutual commitment and close relationship between theUKandNorwayin the field of carbon capture and storage, Minister Enoksen says. - We have agreed to set up aNorth SeaBasinTask Force with the aim to develop comprehensive, common principles as a basis for regulating CO ₂ storage in theNorth Sea.

The declaration was signed at a seminar for North Sea rim countries held in London today. The seminar had the title "CO ₂ Capture and Storage: Collaborative Options for CO ₂ Storage beneath the North Sea". It was agreed to take bilateral steps to explore possible areas of co-operation to encourage injection and permanent storage of CO ₂ in geological structures beneath the seabed.

Both ministers recognised the important role sub-seabed injection of CO ₂ could have as one of the tools and approaches available to meet the challenges of climate change. The ministers noted that both countries have a huge potential for injection and permanent storage of CO ₂ in sub-seabed geological structures in the North Sea, either in producing oil fields for enhanced oil recovery purpose (EOR), in depleted oil and gas fields or in other geological structures. They feel confident that such storage can be done in a safe and reliable manner.

The joint declaration

The seminar programme