Greenhouse gas storage authorities

An appropriate resource authority is required before you can conduct any exploration or production activity for greenhouse gas (carbon dioxide) storage areas in Queensland.

In Queensland, greenhouse gas (GHG) storage is regulated under the Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2009 (GGS Act), the Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004, the Mineral and Energy Resources (Common Provisions) Act 2014, Water Act 2000 and the Environmental Protection Act 1994.

The main purpose of the GGS Act is to help reduce the impact of GHG emissions on the environment by facilitating GHG storage, and to regulate the exploration and use of underground geological formations or structures to store carbon dioxide (CO₂).

This guide describes the process of carbon capture and storage and carbon sequestration, as well as the types of resource authorities that are granted and administered under the GGS Act, their main features, and how to apply.

Greenhouse Gas Storage in Great Artesian Basin

In June 2024, the Queensland Government introduced a legislative ban on GHG storage activities in the Great Artesian Basin (GAB), in Queensland.

For the purpose of the ban, the GAB is defined under the GGS Act as the area that is on or below the surface of the plan area under the Water Plan (Great Artesian Basin and Other Regional Aquifers) 2017 (PDF, 1.2MB).

The ban extends to all existing and any future proposals for GHG storage projects in the GAB in Queensland.

The area of a GHG permit or lease must not include land within the area of the GAB in Queensland.

GHG storage activities may be able to occur in other areas of Queensland outside of the GAB, subject to existing regulatory assessment and approval processes.

The Queensland Government is establishing a Technical Review Panel to review the safety aspects of GHG storage activities outside of the Great Artesian Basin in Queensland. This review will inform the release of any future GHG storage exploration land outside of the GAB, under the Queensland Exploration Program.

Read more about the ban on GHG activities in the GAB.