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

(2019/C 3/03)

The Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Policy hereby gives notice that an application has been received for authorisation to prospect for hydrocarbons in block segments G16c and M1b, as indicated on the map appended as Annex 3 to the Mining Regulation (Mijnbouwregeling) (Government Gazette (Staatscourant) 2014, No 4928).

Block segment G16c is delimited by the great circles between vertex pairs A-B, B-C, C-D, D-E, E-F, F-G, G-H, H-I and A-I.

The vertices are defined as follows:

Vertex ° ′ ″ E.L. ° ′ ″ N.L. A 4 59 55,057 53 59 57,378 B 4 59 55,046 54 5 17,388 C 5 6 55,057 54 5 17,393 D 5 6 55,058 54 4 47,392 E 5 12 20,066 54 4 47,396 F 5 16 33,076 54 3 19,396 G 5 16 33,079 54 1 46,393 H 5 19 55,084 54 1 46,395 I 5 19 55,087 53 59 57,391

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

Block segment G16c covers an area of 175,8 km2.

Block segment M1b is delimited by the great circles between vertex pairs A-B, B-C, C-D, D-E, E-F, F-G, G-H, H-I, I-J, J-K, K-L, L-M, M-N and A-N.

The vertices are defined as follows:

Vertex ° ′ ″ E.L. ° ′ ″ N.L. A 4 59 55,057 53 59 57,378 B 5 19 55,087 53 59 57,391 C 5 19 55,107 53 49 57,371 D 5 15 18,282 53 49 57,368 E 5 18 43,831 53 54 42,160 F 5 18 43,828 53 56 3,283 G 5 17 35,233 53 56 0,664 H 5 17 40,139 53 57 24,185 I 5 18 43,826 53 57 24,185 J 5 17 32,885 53 59 25,089 K 5 16 15,513 53 59 25,088 L 5 9 57,482 53 55 5,925 M 5 9 57,483 53 54 33,794 N 4 59 55,067 53 54 33,787

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

Block segment M1b covers an area of 193,2 km2.

With reference to the Directive referred to in the preamble 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 block segments G16c and M1b 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) and (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:

The Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Policy Attn.: Mr J.L. Rosch, Energy and Environment Directorate Bezuidenhoutseweg 73 Postbus 20401 2500 EK Den Haag NEDERLAND Email: mijnbouwaanvragen@minez.nl

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

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

Further information can be obtained by calling Ms E. Aygün on the following telephone number: +31 611223780.