The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) has published new versions of guidance relating to Disputes and Sanctions. The changes reflect the organisation’s change in business name to the NSTA in addition to updating and providing additional clarification to some areas within each document. The changes also reflect a new streamlined Disputes and Sanctions process which sees the removal of the ‘Enquiry’ stage.
Financial Penalty Guidance – Looks at the matters to which the NSTA will focus on when determining the level of financial penalty in a financial penalty notice.
Sanction Procedure – The NSTA can give a person a sanction notice if it considers that the person has failed to comply with a ‘petroleum-related requirement’, which is defined as either a duty to act in accordance with the Strategy, a term or condition of an offshore licence, or a requirement imposed by specified provisions in the Energy Act 2016.​
Dispute Resolution – A wide range of disputes can be referred to the NSTA under the provisions of Part 2 Section 2 of the Energy Act 2016. ​The NSTA’s dispute resolution guidance sets out the requirements and obligations on all parties. It also sets out the approach the NSTA would take in handling disputes and the principles the NSTA would expect to be guided by in determining an optimal outcome that the NSTA considers will best contribute to the fulfilment of the Central Obligation under the Strategy.
Guidance on Disputes over Third Party Access to Upstream Oil and Gas Infrastructure – sets out the requirements and obligations on all parties. It also sets out the approach the NSTA would take in handling applications and the principles the NSTA would expect to be guided by in determining terms of access.
Source: NSTA.