Abandoned Oil Well Sealing Project Subsidy (FY2026: Kanto-Tohoku Industrial Safety and Inspection Department)

①Overview: This subsidy is administered by the Kanto-Tohoku Industrial Safety and Inspection Department of METI, covering Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Niigata, Shizuoka, Nagano, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Yamanashi and Chiba. It promotes well-sealing works carried out by local governments on abandoned oil wells where oil leakage or other mining damage has occurred or may occur, to prevent damage and ensure stable, low-cost oil supply. ②Eligibility: Only local governments (prefectures and municipalities) implementing sealing works on qualifying abandoned oil mines—where the party originally obliged to seal the well is insolvent or no longer exists—are eligible. Private companies and individuals cannot apply. The target mine must lie within the Kanto-Tohoku jurisdiction. ③Eligible expenses & content: Eligible works comprise (A) Well sealing works—preliminary feasibility survey, design, removal/disposal of surface and downhole equipment, disposal of residues, backfilling, casing pipe extraction, refilling and ancillary works—and (B) Oil-leak treatment caused by abandoned wells. Eligible cost categories include main works, ancillary works, survey & measurement, land compensation, miscellaneous works, and administrative expenses, calculated per Schedule 1. ④Rate, cap, schedule, key points: The subsidy rate is up to 3/4 of eligible expenses, with a minimum grant of ¥1,000,000 in principle. The application (Form 1) plus works plan (Form 2) and cost statement (Form 3) must be submitted to the Director of the Kanto-Tohoku Industrial Safety and Inspection Department by July 31 of the relevant fiscal year (except in emergencies). Standard processing period is 30 days. Completion reports are due within 30 days of completion or by April 10 of the next fiscal year, whichever is earlier.