Industry restates call to support recovery framework as it warns net zero role is not a given

The leading representative body for the UK’s offshore oil and gas industry has repeated its calls to accelerate moves to net zero as part of efforts to support the sector’s recovery.

Speaking in response to advice issued to governments by the Committee on Climate Change today, and confirmation by Prime Minister Boris Johnson that the UK Government is working with OGUK on a sector deal, the body’s chief executive today said the sector remains committed to a three-stage framework published earlier this month.

The framework sets out specific steps to support the sector during the immediate coronavirus pandemic, to aide its recovery to meet as much of the UK’s oil and gas needs from domestic resources, and ultimately to deploy the sector’s skills, capabilities and infrastructure to develop the critical net zero infrastructure of the future.

Commenting, OGUK Chief Executive Deirdre Michie said:

“The UK’s offshore oil and gas industry is under enormous pressure and we’re already seeing the direct impact of this on companies, jobs and the communities we work in up and down the country.

“This is an industry which can play a critical role in the UK’s transition to net zero, but it is not a given. Utilising our skilled people, capabilities and infrastructure means we can meet as much of the UK’s oil and gas needs from domestic resources while also stepping up to support the delivery of key low carbon technologies including CCUS at scale.

“We’ve welcomed the support from both the UK and the Scottish Government and can confirm we are working on a sector deal proposal. We need to keep working together with governments, regulators and indeed anyone interested in a fair, inclusive, and sustainable transition to deliver what is needed for the sector and the country.”

Read the latest issue of the OGV Energy magazine HERE.