Industry body issues message for UK politicians

In a statement published on its website on Monday, industry body Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) said it was urging politicians from all parties to support the principles set out in its manifesto.

The statement highlights that with supportive government policy, the OEUK manifesto shows that the offshore energy industry can create a local energy transition that leaves no one behind; maintain existing jobs while increasing the skilled workforce of tomorrow; provide £200 billion ($254.46 billion) of private investment over the next decade, driving economic growth and technological innovation; supply half of the UK’s energy needs by 2030 in an uncertain world; meet the UK’s carbon neutrality commitment by 2050.

“We hope that economic growth, jobs and energy will be at the heart of all the major parties’ plans when their manifestos are published next week,” OEUK CEO David Whitehouse said in the statement.

“But policymakers must take people and communities with them. We must ensure we build an energy future that leaves no one behind,” he added.

“We are calling on politicians to support the UK’s offshore energy sector and its people. With the right support, this industry can deliver a local energy transition that unlocks our potential and powers the UK’s future,” he continued.

Rigzone contacted the Conservative Party, Labor Party, Reform UK, Liberal Democrats, Green Party, Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru for comment on OEUK’s statement. As of this writing, neither party has yet responded to Rigzone.

According to a voting intention tracker on the YouGov website, as of June 6, Labor stood at 41 percent, the Conservatives at 19 percent, the British Reform Party at 16 percent, the Liberal Democrats at 11 percent, the Green Party at 7 percent. , the Scottish National Party stands at three percent and Plaid Cymru at one percent.

In a statement sent to Rigzone following British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s announcement that the country would hold a general election on July 4, Whitehouse called on all parties to “choose a local energy transition”.

“As the country prepares to decide its future government on July 4, we call on all parties to choose a local energy transition. A transition that saves jobs, energy security and accelerates economic growth,” Whitehouse said in the statement.

At an event in Scotland earlier this month, Labor leader Keir Starmer told attendees his party was not turning off the oil and gas taps..

“I have been very, very clear in relation to the transition, that we are not turning off the taps,” Starmer told the conference, broadcast live by the Scottish Labor Party.

“Oil and gas will be part of the mix for many years, we are not revoking any licenses, but a transition is coming,” he added.

In a statement sent to Rigzone after the event, Whitehouse said: “It was good to hear Labor say again that if they win this general election they will not turn off the taps and revoke oil licenses and gas and they recognize the need for oil and gas in the UK for many decades.

In a separate statement published on the OEUK website on May 30, Whitehouse said: “The UK’s offshore energy industry employs people in almost every parliamentary constituency, from Shetland to Southampton.”

“As candidates hit the campaign trail, we challenge them to support this sector and its workers so we can have a local energy transition,” he added.

“Our manifesto calls for a local energy transition that protects UK jobs, communities and our energy security while boosting economic growth. In this journey, we must choose to build on our existing industrial assets and put our skilled people and companies at the forefront,” he continued.

“We need both oil, gas and renewable energy in an integrated system to protect the UK’s energy needs. As we expand renewable energy, we will still rely on oil and gas for decades. So it makes sense to prioritize local production,” Whitehouse continued.

OEUK represents more than 400 companies of all sizes producing oil, gas, wind and hydrogen energy, as well as carbon capture and energy supply chain technologies, the organization notes on its site.

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