NSTA

The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) is the United Kingdom’s offshore energy regulator, responsible for licensing, stewardship and regulation of oil and gas exploration and production, as well as carbon storage, on the UK Continental Shelf. Formerly the Oil and Gas Authority, it is a government‑owned company with statutory powers, rebranded in 2022 to reflect its role in the energy transition.

NSTA sets and enforces requirements on field development, flaring and venting, decommissioning, emissions reduction, and offshore carbon storage licensing, and works with industry to balance energy security with net‑zero objectives. Its decisions influence UK supplies of natural gas and NGLs, the build‑out of CO2 transport and storage infrastructure, and the development of hydrogen and CCUS value chains that intersect with the chemical sector.