EN Official Journal of the European Union C 444/9

Communication from the Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Policy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands pursuant to Article 3(2) of Directive 94/22/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the conditions for granting and using authorisations for the prospection, exploration and production of hydrocarbons

(2017/C 444/10)

The Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Policy hereby gives notice that an application has been received for authorisation to prospect for hydrocarbons in blocks B17 and F01 and segments of the blocks B16 (B16b), E3 (E3a), E6 (E6a), F2 (F2b) and F4 (F4a) as indicated on the map appended as Annex 3 to the Mining Regulation [Mijnbouwregeling] (Government Gazette [Staatscourant] 2014, No 4928).

Block segment B16b is delimited by the great circles between vertex pairs A-B, B-C, C-D and A-D.

The vertices are defined as follows:

Vertex ° ′ ″ E.L. ° ′ ″ N.L. A 3 59 54,831 55 4 57,466 B 4 19 54,862 55 4 57,480 C 4 19 54,873 54 59 57,470 D 3 59 54,842 54 59 57,456

The above vertices are defined by their geographical coordinates, calculated according to the ETRS89 system.

Block segment B16b covers an area of 197,6 km2.

Block segment E3a is delimited by the great circles between vertex pairs A-B, B-C, C-D and A-D.

The vertices are defined as follows:

Vertex ° ′ ″ E.L. ° ′ ″ N.L. A 3 47 24,823 54 59 57,447 B 3 59 54,842 54 59 57,456 C 3 59 54,863 54 49 57,436 D 3 47 24,844 54 49 57,427

The above vertices are defined by their geographical coordinates, calculated according to the ETRS89 system.

Block segment E3a covers an area of 247,7 km2.

Block segment E6a is delimited by the great circles between vertex pairs A-B, B-C, C-D and A-D.

The vertices are defined as follows:

Vertex ° ′ ″ E.L. ° ′ ″ N.L. A 3 47 24,844 54 49 57,427 B 3 59 54,863 54 49 57,436 C 3 59 54,867 54 48 19,433 D 3 47 24,848 54 48 19,424

The above vertices are defined by their geographical coordinates, calculated according to the ETRS89 system.

Block segment E6a covers an area of 40,6 km2.

Block segment F2b is delimited by the great circles between vertex pairs A-B, B-C, C-D and A-D.

The vertices are defined as follows:

Vertex ° ′ ″ E.L. ° ′ ″ N.L. A 4 19 54,873 54 59 57,470 B 4 28 54,887 54 59 57,476 C 4 28 54,897 54 54 57,466 D 4 19 54,883 54 54 57,460

The above vertices are defined by their geographical coordinates, calculated according to the ETRS89 system.

Block segment F2b covers an area of 89,1 km2.

Block segment F4a is delimited by the great circles between vertex pairs A-B, B-C, C-D and A-D.

The vertices are defined as follows:

Vertex ° ′ ″ E.L. ° ′ ″ N.L. A 3 59 54,863 54 49 57,436 B 4 19 54,894 54 49 57,450 C 4 19 54,907 54 43 50,438 D 3 59 54,876 54 43 50,423

The above vertices are defined by their geographical coordinates, calculated according to the ETRS89 system.

Block segment F4a covers an area of 243,2 km2.

With reference to the Directive referred to in the introduction and Article 15 of the Mining Act (Mijnbouwwet) (Bulletin of Acts and Decrees (Staatsblad) 2002, No 542), the Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Policy hereby invites interested parties to submit a competing application for authorisation to prospect for hydrocarbons in blocks B17 and F1 and segments of blocks B16 (B16b), E3 (E3a), E06 (E6a), F2 (F2b) and F4 (F4a) of the Dutch continental shelf.

The Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Policy is the competent authority for the granting of authorisations. The criteria, conditions and requirements referred to in Articles 5(1), 5(2) and 6(2) of the above-mentioned Directive are set out in the Mining Act (Bulletin of Acts and Decrees 2002, No 542).

Applications may be submitted during the 13 weeks following the publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union and should be sent to:

De Minister van Economische Zaken en Klimaat ter attentie van de heer J.L. Rosch, directie Energie en Omgeving Bezuidenhoutseweg 73 Postbus 20401, 2500 EK Den Haag NEDERLAND

Applications received after the expiry of this period will not be considered.

A decision on the applications will be taken not later than 12 months after this period has expired.

Further information can be obtained by calling Mr E.J. Hoppel on: +31 703797762.