The Belgian Hydrogen Act Enters Into Force

On 4 August 2023, the Belgian Act on the transport of hydrogen by means of pipelines (the "Hydrogen Act") entered into force.

The Hydrogen Act establishes a regulatory framework for the transport of hydrogen via pipelines and aims to promote the optimal development of the Belgian hydrogen market and its hydrogen transport infrastructure.

By adopting the Act, the Belgian legislator chose not to wait for the final adoption of the European decarbonised gas package, which aims to establish the principles for a common regulatory framework for the organisation of a (European) hydrogen market (Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on common rules for the internal markets in renewable and natural gases and in hydrogen, COM/2021/803 final and Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the internal markets for renewable and natural gases and for hydrogen (recast), COM/2021/804 final).