Nigerian communities set to have oil pollution High Court claims tried in 2027
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The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
Nothing just or orderly about transitioning to the dole
As deals go, it was fairly uncontroversial and did no raise much publicity, but it, perhaps, further illustrates Aberdeen's steep economic decline. For the Woodbank is currently owned by Shell and has 21 bedrooms, seven meeting rooms, private dining rooms and a sports centre. Only Shell staff and executives could use the facility and was widely used as thousands of workers started moving to the North-east during the height of the oil boom. But now it is surplus to requirements by the oil giant which like other industry majors are turning their back on the North Sea due to dwindling reserves and punitive taxes that make it not worth their while drilling for it. Last year, US oil giant Chevron announced it will close its office in Aberdeen, as it leaves the North Sea after more than 50 years. The multinational energy corporation is active in 180 countries, and boasted revenues of $200billion (£145bn) in 2023. Last year, Chevron announced that it would sell its remaining North Sea assets amid declining production. Chevron was one of the first companies to invest in North Sea oil, with drilling beginning in the early 1970s. How bad things have got was recently highlighted with figures showing that more than 13,000 Scots oil and gas jobs have been lost in the space of just one year, while more than 40% of the UK's energy needs is being imported. BrewDog pub closures should act as a warning to Starmer Nothing about the A9 dualling project suggests momentum Ms Hyslop Scotland needs more workers - here's how we attract them It is high time that irresponsible campervan users are taxed off the NC500 I have walked amongst Scotland's largest seagulls - and they are a menace According to the trade association Offshore Energies UK (OEUK), the number of jobs both directly and in the broader supply chain in North Sea oil and gas has dropped by nearly half since 2013, from 117,900 to just 60,700 in 2023. In the last full year tracked, there was a loss of 13,400 jobs, with hundreds more expected to be shed with the closure of Scotland's only oil refinery. Aberdeen's main thoroughfare Union Street currently has one in four shops lying empty as highly paid workers leave the city for greener pastures. Is this what politicians mean when they refer to a just transition? I'm not sure the near 60,000 people who have lost their jobs in the industry over the past decade at the altar of Net Zero would say anything about it being just for them. According to the official definition, a 'just transition' refers to a shift towards a sustainable, low-carbon economy that is fair and inclusive, ensuring that no one is left behind in the process. But while all the jobs have been lost in the North Sea, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) analysis for the first quarter of this year shows that net energy import dependency, which measures how much the UK needs to buy in after accounting for exports, is at 47%. This is nearly 10% more than in 2019 – when net import dependency was at 38.7%. Overall, energy production in the first three months of this year is 25% lower than in the pre-pandemic year of 2019. It is no surprise then that the offshore energy industry trade group has called on UK ministers to give greater support for North Sea production, insisting it is not incompatible with net zero aims – contrary to environmental group narratives. But the UK Government has been standing firm on the denial of future oil and gas exploration licences, which it was felt was required to meet global warming targets. This steadfast principle has partly led to Scotland losing on average 37 oil and gas jobs every day. So much for the old adage that we're all in this together. The OEUK has told the UK Government that issuing no new oil and gas licences for the exploration of new fuels will result in the UK being more reliant on imports of oil and gas to meet energy demands. They warned in a briefing: 'This is not in the national interest, and undermines UK energy security and climate goals.' Their analysis says that UK Government advisers, The Climate Change Committee (CCC), estimate the UK will require 13-15 billion barrels of oil and gas equivalent (boe) in the period 2025 to 2050 to meet its energy needs. But they say the North Sea Transition Authority forecasts the UK to produce only four billion barrels of oil and gas in the period 2025 to 2050, less than one third of the 'balanced path' for net zero transition. They warn that importing energy takes away support for production at home to supply the Scottish and UK economy, with the spin-off of endangering jobs and therefore less tax to the Treasury. But it also says that relying on imported energy instead of domestic North Sea supplies can increase the carbon footprint by up to four times, because it has to be transported. Oil workers pay quite a bit of tax too and certain specialists will have simply moved away to other oil producing areas and pay tax there instead. In the midst of this, artists including Paloma Faith, Lola Young and The Cure's Robert Smith have urged the Prime Minister to reject future drilling at Rosebank in the North Sea. In a letter addressed to Sir Keir Starmer, the musicians argued that further development of the oil field north west of Shetland would undermine the UK's climate commitments and the sustainability of the cultural sector. The letter urges the Government to follow the science and states, 'any new application to exploit Rosebank's reserves must be refused'. Sadly, give the form of previous administrations, ministers will probably put more weight on the opinions of singers rather than their own advisors and the industry. Everyone knows the world must wean itself off fossil fuels and great strides gave already been made but it's not an overnight quick fix. We still have to get it from somewhere - so why not here? Once these jobs have gone, they've gone and there is nothing just or orderly about it.
Evening Standard
6 days ago
- Evening Standard
FTSE 100 pushes higher as US rate cut bets build
'The discussions between President Trump and President Putin on Friday could also be weighing on the oil price. If they do find a solution to the war in Ukraine, then it could exacerbate the supply glut even further, and the bias could be to the downside for the oil price as we lead up to the talks. For the FTSE 100, this means that big hitters like Shell and BP could come under further downward pressure.'
Telegraph
12-08-2025
- Telegraph
Lammy hit with legal threat over Israel links to Foreign Office jobs scheme
David Lammy has been threatened with legal action over claims that a Foreign Office job swap programme with BAE Systems could hand staff 'improper influence' over Britain's policy towards Israel. In a pre-action letter to the Foreign Secretary, environmental charity The Corner House raised 'serious concerns' about potential conflicts of interest. It urged officials to explain whether BAE employees would be involved in shaping policy. In particular, the charity demanded answers from the Government as to whether BAE staff would be involved in matters relating to ' potential or actual genocide in Palestine' and the 'licensing of arms exports'. The legal threat emerged after Mr Lammy invited staff from BAE and Shell to swap jobs with diplomats in Whitehall to help 'champion their interests overseas'. The Corner House, which has instructed lawyers at Leigh Day, called on the Foreign Office to 'confirm whether embedded BAE Systems staff will be involved directly or indirectly in advising, commenting, deciding on law and/or policy relating to trade and/or foreign affairs (including humanitarian affairs)'. Without an adequate response, the charity said it was prepared to launch legal proceedings about the scheme's lawfulness. Nicholas Hildyard, who founded The Corner House, said: 'This scheme cries out for judicial scrutiny. 'Seconding employees from powerful corporations to the Foreign Office or other ministries (and vice versa) is a recipe for potential serious conflicts of interest.' BAE Systems is currently one of the biggest exporters of British arms to Israel through a US-run scheme that enables the sale of F-35 jet parts to the Israel Defence Forces. A BAE spokesman said: 'We do not have operations or employees based in Israel or Gaza and we do not currently sell military equipment directly to the Government of Israel.' The legal letter comes after the Foreign Office last September suspended 30 licences that had allowed British companies to sell arms to be used in Gaza. This decision was made amid concerns the weapons could be used to 'commit or facilitate serious violations of International Humanitarian Law'.
