Shell Faces EU Carbon Storage Deadline Questions as Its Own Reports List Projects Starting in 2031, 2034 and 2035

An independent investigation into Shell's European carbon storage obligations finds a notable gap between the EU's 2030 deadline and the project timelines listed in regulatory reports. The Net-Zero Industry Act requires oil and gas producers to deliver qualifying annual CO2 injection capacity by 2030. Shell Italia and NAM, the Shell and ExxonMobil joint venture, have combined obligations of nearly 8 million tonnes per year, but their 2026 progress reports identify offshore projects with anticipated start years of 2031, 2034 and 2035. The investigation also covers ExxonMobil's confidential arbitration challenge to the EU rules. While Shell has not filed that challenge, it is exposed through NAM, which carries the largest individual allocation on the Commission's list. Shell Italia's own report says it lacks the resources to develop CCS projects independently and will rely on third-party arrangements. That raises real questions about how these obligations will be met, or whether the Commission will need to clarify or enforce the rules before 2030.