Crown Minerals Act 1991

Permits, access to land, and other matters - Decommissioning of petroleum infrastructure and wells - Decommissioning obligations for petroleum infrastructure

89P: Joint and several liability

You could also call this:

"When you share a permit or licence with others, you are all equally responsible for costs and actions."

Illustration for Crown Minerals Act 1991

If you have a permit with one or more other people, and section 89J applies, then you are all responsible for making sure the petroleum infrastructure is decommissioned. You are also responsible for paying the costs of decommissioning. This means that if one of you cannot pay, the others must pay instead. If you have a licence with one or more other people, and section 89K applies, then you are all responsible for making sure the petroleum infrastructure is decommissioned. You are also responsible for paying the costs of decommissioning. You can be held responsible for paying all the costs, even if you are not the only one responsible for the licence or permit.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

This page was last updated on 14 August 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS622378.

Topics:

Environment and resources > Climate and energy

89O: Criteria for agreeing or setting time frames for decommissioning, or

"How the Minister decides when to stop using a mining site and clean it up"

89Q: What is plugging and abandonment of well, or

"Sealing a well permanently so it can't be used again"

Part 1BPermits, access to land, and other matters
Decommissioning of petroleum infrastructure and wells: Decommissioning obligations for petroleum infrastructure

89PJoint and several liability

Subsection (2) applies if section 89J applies and there is a permit holder who is 2 or more persons.
Each person to whom this subsection applies is jointly and severally liable to perform the obligations of the permit holder in carrying out, and meeting the costs of, decommissioning petroleum infrastructure.
Subsection (4) applies if section 89K applies and there is a licence holder who is 2 or more persons.
Each person to whom this subsection applies is jointly and severally liable to perform the obligations of the licence holder in relation to carrying out, and meeting the costs of, decommissioning petroleum infrastructure.

Notes

Section 89P: inserted, on 2 December 2021, by section 18 of the Crown Minerals (Decommissioning and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 53).