Oil and gas concessions

Oil and gas concessions are administrative or contractual instruments granting exclusive or limited rights to explore for, extract, store or transport hydrocarbons. Switzerland has limited domestic hydrocarbon activity, so the topic is mainly relevant through cantonal subsurface law, pipeline and energy infrastructure, environmental review and cross-border supply issues. Concession terms usually address duration, work obligations, fees, decommissioning, safety, reporting and liability. Comparative regimes differ between licences, production-sharing contracts and concessions, and increasingly include climate policy, methane controls and public participation.