Serbia has taken a step toward regulating carbon dioxide storage as part of a broader effort to modernize its hydrocarbon sector. The Ministry of Mining and Energy has begun drafting a new law on hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation that would explicitly allow the permanent disposal of CO2 in geological formations within depleted oil and gas fields.
The proposed legislation is intended to replace elements of the existing mining framework, which currently treats hydrocarbons solely as mineral energy resources. Officials say the new law aims to create a unified legal and institutional system covering exploration, production, transport and the use of underground structures for both natural gas storage and long term carbon dioxide disposal.
As part of the drafting process, the ministry has opened a public consultation period, inviting submissions from industry participants, academic institutions, civil society groups and individual experts. Stakeholders have until January 18 to provide feedback on the law’s principles and scope.
According to the ministry, the framework is being designed to align Serbia’s regulatory system with European Union rules, including legislation governing hydrocarbon licensing, offshore safety and the geological storage of carbon dioxide.
Europe cautious about onshore carbon storage
Across the European Union, carbon dioxide storage is gaining renewed attention as member states look to scale carbon capture technologies alongside industrial decarbonization. The EU’s Carbon Capture and Storage Directive provides the legal basis for geological storage, but national implementation varies widely.
Austria offers a useful point of comparison for Serbia as another landlocked country navigating public acceptance, regulatory design and geological constraints. While Austria currently restricts large scale CO₂ storage, it has expanded research into subsurface potential and cross border transport options as part of its climate strategy.
These developments highlight how landlocked states are increasingly weighing domestic storage rules against regional cooperation, particularly as EU climate targets intensify and demand for long term carbon management solutions grows.
Read more: Austria Launches Feasibility Study On Carbon Capture And Transport
