The Legal Architecture of Carbon Capture and Storage in Japan
Article from: OGEL 2 (2026), in Coal & Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
Abstract
Japan's legal framework for carbon capture and storage is now centred on the Act on Carbon Capture and Storage Business, commonly referred to as the "CCS Business Act", enacted in May 2024 with staged enforcement through May 2026. The Act creates real rights to prospect for and store carbon dioxide in geological formations, establishes a structured licensing regime administered by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), prescribes operational obligations from planning through decommissioning, and assigns long term post closure stewardship to the Japan Organization for Metals ...