1. Asia must move beyond MoUs—functional trust and project certainty will unlock cross-border CCS.

Ms. Gandhi of Wood MacKenzie contrasted Europe’s mature CCS ecosystem—anchored by bilateral agreements, legal clarity, and bankable infrastructure—with the Asia-Pacific region’s MoU-heavy landscape. She emphasized that Asia’s next step requires operational frameworks that provide project-level certainty, streamlined permitting, and risk allocation. Aligning regulatory architecture with capital needs is crucial to turning political intent into investable opportunity.

​

2. Australia is primed to deliver —policy, geology, and credibility make it Japan’s most trusted CCS partner.

Ms. Koravos of AJBCV highlighted Australia’s strength in cross-border CCS partnerships: robust geology, a stable regulatory environment, and policy-backed momentum through the Safeguard Mechanism. She noted that while Malaysia and Indonesia are emerging as regional contenders, Australia’s first-mover advantage and alignment with Japanese industrial partners present a unique near-term opportunity. The next step is to move from vision to firm offtake-linked project delivery.

​

3. Indonesia is CCS-ready—international standards, policy alignment, and $40B pipeline in motion.

Shared by Ms. Diofanny of Indonesia CCS Center that Indonesia has made significant regulatory progress with the enactment of Presidential Regulation No. 14/2024, a Mutual Recognition Agreement with Gold Standard, and the adoption of four ISO TC 265 standards for geological storage. With over 600 gigatons of storage potential and a strong industrial base, Indonesia is moving from planning to execution. A $40B project pipeline and international-standard compliance offer both investor confidence and regional cooperation opportunities, particularly with Japan.

​

4. Timor-Leste is emerging fast—new legislation will open doors to CCS investment and cooperation.

Mr. Teme of the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources of Timor-Leste shared the country’s ambition to become an active regional CCS player. Timor-Leste is advancing the Bayu-Undan CCS project, aiming to transform existing gas infrastructure into a carbon storage hub. With ~250 Mt of potential capacity and ~1 Tcf in remaining gas, CCS may accompany or follow gas extraction. A draft CCS decree law—targeted for enactment by end-2025—lays out permitting, HSE, liability, and regulatory delegation. High-level dialogues with Japan, Australia, and regional partners are ongoing. Timor-Leste positions itself as a nimble early mover, leveraging proven geology and international collaboration to create climate and economic value.

​​

5. Alberta offers a carbon capture haven—tax credits, infrastructure, and market-ready opportunities.”

Mr. Rozitis from Invest Alberta emphasized Alberta’s readiness to attract Japanese and global partners. With the upcoming Alberta Carbon Capture Incentive Program (ACCIP), established storage infrastructure, and deep engineering experience, Alberta provides a stable environment for CCUS deployment. He introduced forward-looking scenarios where CCS can support next-generation industries such as net-zero data centers, inviting Japan to collaborate on long-term, tech-enabled investment opportunities.

​

6. Unlocking cross-border CCS requires a three-pillar support model: revenue, risk, and regulatory certainty.

To enhance the bankability of CCS projects, Mr. Keisuke Hosoi of JBIC introduced a three-part support framework: revenue support to bridge the cost-price gap, risk mitigation across the value chain, and governmental backstops for uninsurable risks. These pillars aim to provide predictable cash flow, manage contractual and delivery risks, and ensure long-term liability coverage. Within this framework, JBIC plays a catalytic role by offering long-term financing, supporting early-stage CCS ventures, and fostering strategic public–private cooperation across Asia-Pacific’s emerging carbon capture ecosystem.

​​