Subsidy for Sealing Abandoned Petroleum Wells (FY2026: Kanto-Tohoku Industrial Safety and Inspection Department, Tohoku Branch)

(1) Overview: This grant, administered by METI's Industrial Safety Group / Kanto-Tohoku Industrial Safety Department, Tohoku Branch, partially reimburses the costs incurred by local governments that voluntarily seal abandoned petroleum wells in the six Tohoku prefectures (Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, Fukushima) where oil leakage or other mining damage has occurred or is likely. The objective is to prevent mining damage from abandoned petroleum wells and thereby secure stable and inexpensive supply of petroleum (Subsidy Notification, Article 2). (2) Eligible applicants: Only local governments (prefectures or municipalities) are eligible to apply. The wells targeted must belong to abandoned petroleum mines whose original obligor for sealing and pollution prevention is insolvent or no longer exists (Article 3-1). Private companies or individuals cannot apply directly. (3) Eligible expenses and content: Two work categories are covered: (A) well-sealing works - preliminary investigation, design, removal/disposal of surface equipment, downhole equipment, residues, filling, casing-pipe extraction (if needed), back-filling and ancillary works; and (B) leakage treatment. Cost items include main works, ancillary works (direct works / common temporary / site management / general management / consumption tax), investigation & survey, land compensation, miscellaneous works (20/1000 of works cost) and administrative cost (50/1000 of works cost). (Article 4 and Table 1.) (4) Rate, ceiling, schedule and key points: The subsidy covers up to 3/4 of eligible costs; the minimum grant in principle is JPY 1,000,000 (Article 3-2). Applications must be submitted by July 31 of the fiscal year on Form 1 (Application), Form 2 (Works Plan) and Form 3 (Cost Statement), with damage reports, stakeholder consents and safety management charts (Article 5). Standard processing time is 30 days; results must be reported within 30 days of completion or by April 10 of the next FY, whichever is earlier. Electronic submission via the e-grants system is supported (Article 6).