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Powys County Times
an hour ago
- Business
- Powys County Times
Ministers should apologise to oil and gas workers who have lost jobs, Tories say
The Government should apologise to oil and gas workers who have lost their jobs since Labour came to power, the Conservatives have said. Shadow energy minister Andrew Bowie said job losses and closures had already taken place as part of the planned switch to more environmentally friendly energy sources. He said 3,000 had already been cut since Labour came to power. He referred to a variety of projected job loss figures, including the Robert Gordon University in Scotland predicting 400 jobs would go every fortnight. Meanwhile energy minister Sarah Jones said oil and gas 'were not the jobs of the future'. Mr Bowie said: '(Offshore Energies UK) predicting 42,000 job losses unless there is significant policy change. 'The Just Transition Commission warning 120,000 jobs may go by 2030, and no prospect of a just transition because the supply-chain are just upping sticks and moving overseas.' If borne out figures produced by the university, based in Aberdeen – a city long linked to the oil and gas industry – would be the equivalent to job losses from the Grangemouth refinery closing every two weeks. Ms Jones replied: 'The North Sea will continue to play an important role for years to come, which is why we are keeping open existing fields for their lifetime. 'The truth is, this is a declining base, and (Mr Bowie) knows this. This is not where the jobs of the future are going to be. The jobs of the future are in the clean energy transition, which we are investing in at pace.' Ministers were also asked by MPs about the future of the Rosebank oil and gas field near the Shetland Islands, off the north-east coast of Scotland. The consent to develop it was declared unlawful by the courts in November 2024. Energy minister Michael Shanks said his department planned to publish guidance on emissions potentially created by Rosebank. Mr Bowie asked: 'In the dim and distant past in 2023, the secretary of state described the Rosebank oil field as a colossal waste of taxpayer money and climate vandalism. Does he still agree?' Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: 'As with any application, there's a process my department will go through and we'll look through any applications in a fair and objective way.' Conservative MP for Gordon and Buchan in Aberdeenshire, Harriet Cross asked why the Government had not met Cabinet Office targets to respond to a consultation on the guidance for emissions from offshore oil and gas projects. The Government says a response should be published within 12 weeks, but it is now 22 weeks since it closed on January 8. Ms Cross said: 'When will the department publish the guidance? Because it is causing delays to projects in the North Sea today.' Ms Shanks replied: 'It's a very complex issue as I'm sure she'll understand. We will publish the response and indeed the process that will now be able to be put into place as soon as possible, and then developers that wish to reapply will be able to do so.' Labour MP Brian Leishman (Alloa and Grangemouth), who has been a vocal critic of the Government's response to Grangemouth's closure asked if the Government would take an ownership stake in any green energy infrastructure. Referring to the Acorn carbon capture and storage scheme north of the border, Mr Leishman said: 'Acorn would go some way to reindustrialising areas of Scotland and that is much needed. 'And I welcomed the Government committing £200 million from the national wealth fund for future industry at Grangemouth in my constituency.' He continued: 'In order to avoid us again being in a precarious position of private capital of foreign government ownership dictating our future energy industries, does the Government plan on taking any ownership stake in the industries that are going to be coming at Grangemouth?' Energy minister Sarah Jones replied: 'We have lost thousands of jobs under the previous government whether it's in ceramics, whether it's in chemicals, whether it's in steel. 'And the previous government saw foundational industries really through the rear-view mirror, but we know they're going to forge our future and that's why we're rushing to get to clean energy by 2030, so we can bring those prices down.'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ministers should apologise to oil and gas workers who have lost jobs, Tories say
The Government should apologise to oil and gas workers who have lost their jobs since Labour came to power, the Conservatives have said. Shadow energy minister Andrew Bowie said job losses and closures had already taken place as part of the planned switch to more environmentally friendly energy sources. He said 3,000 had already been cut since Labour came to power. He referred to a variety of projected job loss figures, including the Robert Gordon University in Scotland predicting 400 jobs would go every fortnight. Meanwhile energy minister Sarah Jones said oil and gas 'were not the jobs of the future'. Mr Bowie said: '(Offshore Energies UK) predicting 42,000 job losses unless there is significant policy change. 'The Just Transition Commission warning 120,000 jobs may go by 2030, and no prospect of a just transition because the supply-chain are just upping sticks and moving overseas.' If borne out figures produced by the university, based in Aberdeen – a city long linked to the oil and gas industry – would be the equivalent to job losses from the Grangemouth refinery closing every two weeks. Ms Jones replied: 'The North Sea will continue to play an important role for years to come, which is why we are keeping open existing fields for their lifetime. 'The truth is, this is a declining base, and (Mr Bowie) knows this. This is not where the jobs of the future are going to be. The jobs of the future are in the clean energy transition, which we are investing in at pace.' Ministers were also asked by MPs about the future of the Rosebank oil and gas field near the Shetland Islands, off the north-east coast of Scotland. The consent to develop it was declared unlawful by the courts in November 2024. Energy minister Michael Shanks said his department planned to publish guidance on emissions potentially created by Rosebank. Mr Bowie asked: 'In the dim and distant past in 2023, the secretary of state described the Rosebank oil field as a colossal waste of taxpayer money and climate vandalism. Does he still agree?' Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: 'As with any application, there's a process my department will go through and we'll look through any applications in a fair and objective way.' Conservative MP for Gordon and Buchan in Aberdeenshire, Harriet Cross asked why the Government had not met Cabinet Office targets to respond to a consultation on the guidance for emissions from offshore oil and gas projects. The Government says a response should be published within 12 weeks, but it is now 22 weeks since it closed on January 8. Ms Cross said: 'When will the department publish the guidance? Because it is causing delays to projects in the North Sea today.' Ms Shanks replied: 'It's a very complex issue as I'm sure she'll understand. We will publish the response and indeed the process that will now be able to be put into place as soon as possible, and then developers that wish to reapply will be able to do so.' Labour MP Brian Leishman (Alloa and Grangemouth), who has been a vocal critic of the Government's response to Grangemouth's closure asked if the Government would take an ownership stake in any green energy infrastructure. Referring to the Acorn carbon capture and storage scheme north of the border, Mr Leishman said: 'Acorn would go some way to reindustrialising areas of Scotland and that is much needed. 'And I welcomed the Government committing £200 million from the national wealth fund for future industry at Grangemouth in my constituency.' He continued: 'In order to avoid us again being in a precarious position of private capital of foreign government ownership dictating our future energy industries, does the Government plan on taking any ownership stake in the industries that are going to be coming at Grangemouth?' Energy minister Sarah Jones replied: 'We have lost thousands of jobs under the previous government whether it's in ceramics, whether it's in chemicals, whether it's in steel. 'And the previous government saw foundational industries really through the rear-view mirror, but we know they're going to forge our future and that's why we're rushing to get to clean energy by 2030, so we can bring those prices down.'
STV News
7 days ago
- Business
- STV News
Oil industry could see job cuts like Grangemouth every fortnight, report warns
The number of jobs in the UK oil and gas sector could plunge to just 57,000 in the next few years, with a report warning there could be the equivalent of 400 cut every fortnight. That level of job losses would be the same as the closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery every two weeks, according to research by Aberdeen's Robert Gordon University. It said in 'low-case scenarios', where the UK makes 'slower progress' as the country transitions towards renewable energy, jobs in the oil and gas workforce would drop from 115,000 at present to 'as low as 57,000 by the early 2030s'. The report added this would be a 'reduction of around 400 jobs – equivalent to the closure of the Grangemouth refinery – every two weeks'. With almost one in 30 Scottish workers currently employed in either the offshore energy sector, or an industry which supports it – compared to one in 220 across the UK – it highlighted how the 'potential risks for Scotland's supply chain and workforce are substantial'. PA Media The recent closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery led to 400 jobs losses Figures for 2024 show there were 154,000 people employed in the offshore energy sector – with 75% in the oil and gas sector and the remaining 25% in renewables. The Striking The Balance report noted the production of oil is now down by 'almost 75% from its peak' in 1999-2000, when it produced the equivalent of 4.5 million barrels of oil per day. This has now dropped to 1.09 million barrels of oil equivalent a day, with the report noting that without new licences being granted 'the oil and gas industry is forecast to decline by around 95% by 2050 from 2024 levels'. The report said: 'Depending on which scenario will play out, the direct and indirect UK oil and gas workforce is expected to fall from 115,000 to between 57,000 and 71,000 by the early 2030s, with further declines to between 33,000 and 48,000 by 2035.' SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn challenged Westminster to act in the wake of the report. He said: 'The independent expert advice is clear, we will see a Grangemouth scale of job losses each and every fortnight if the UK Government does not shift from its misguided position and protect the energy industry of today, so that the workforce can use their skills and expertise to develop the net zero industries of tomorrow. 'The opportunities of net zero are enormous but they will not be realised if the Labour Government continues with its current fiscal regime that deters stability, confidence and investment in existing industries and we therefore lose our best people, and world-class supply chain, to nations elsewhere.' Scottish Conservative energy spokesman and North East Scotland MSP Douglas Lumsden insisted however that both the Scottish and UK governments need to change their approach. PA Media SNP MP Stephen Flynn claimed UK Government policies 'deter stability, confidence and investment in existing industries' He said the 'alarming' report 'lays bare the economic vandalism caused by both Labour and the SNP's opposition to oil and gas'. He added: 'John Swinney and Keir Starmer have disgracefully sat back while jobs continue to be lost throughout the sector as both remain totally oblivious to the fact that renewables alone can't yet satisfy our energy needs.' Pressed on the issue in Holyrood, acting Scottish climate action minister Alasdair Allan vowed ministers will 'learn' from the report, saying: 'We hope the UK Government will too.' While some areas regarding energy are devolved to Holyrood, he added that others are reserved to Westminster and 'we must get helpful decisions from the UK Government'. Mr Allan stated: 'The Scottish Government is clear in our support of the economy of the north east. We are working for a just transition for Scotland's oil and gas sector, which recognises the maturity of the North Sea basin and is in line with our climate change commitments and energy security. 'We appreciate that this report comes in the context of recent and concerning reports of job losses in the oil and gas sector. 'Workers are at the heart of Scotland's just transition to net zero. The Scottish Government is working with the energy sector to plan for a multi-skilled workforce and enable our skilled offshore workers to carry their experience and expertise into different roles.' He said the UK Government could provide a 'full funding package' for the Acorn carbon capture and storage project in Aberdeenshire in next week's comprehensive spending review. A spokesperson for the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: 'We have taken rapid steps to deliver the next generation of good jobs for North Sea workers in a fair and orderly transition as part of our Plan for Change, including by making the biggest investment in offshore wind and two first-of-a-kind carbon capture storage clusters. 'This comes alongside Great British Energy, headquartered in Aberdeen, which has already announced a £300 million investment into British supply chains, unlocking significant investment and helping to create thousands of skilled jobs. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
STV News
7 days ago
- Business
- STV News
'Alarming' figures show 400 oil and gas jobs could be lost every fortnight
A new report has warned that the oil and gas industry could lose up to 400 jobs every two weeks for the next five years unless action is taken. The major report from Robert Gordon University said on Tuesday that the UK risks losing tens of thousands of offshore energy jobs by 2030 unless urgent and coordinated action is taken immediately. In the worst-case scenario, it could mean the loss of up to 400 jobs a fortnight – the same number lost as a result of the recent Grangemouth refinery closure. The report said: 'Depending on which scenario will play out, the direct and indirect UK oil and gas workforce is expected to fall from 115,000 to between 57,000 and 71,000 by the early 2030s, with further declines to between 33,000 and 48,000 by 2035.' North East Scotland MSP Douglas Lumsden called the report 'alarming' and said it 'lays bare the economic vandalism caused by both Labour and the SNP's opposition to oil and gas'. 'Yes, the Labour Government have shamefully abandoned our oil and gas industry – but so too have the Nationalists,' the Scottish Conservative energy spokesman said. 'Like Keir Starmer, the SNP oppose all new oil and gas projects in the North Sea. In fact, the only real difference between the two on energy policy is that John Swinney's party also, absurdly, oppose nuclear power.' In a ministerial statement on Tuesday, acting minister for climate action Alasdair Allan acknowledged the 'concerning series of announcements' about jobs in the region – including the most recent job losses at Harbour Energy in Aberdeen. However, he claimed that most of the key policy areas around oil and gas are 'matters reserved to the UK Government'. He said Scottish ministers will 'learn' from the report, but 'hoped the UK Government will too'. 'Clarity on the direction of travel from the UK Government will be vital,' Allan said. '[Planning for the needs of oil and gas] is not something we can do alone, and the UK Government urgently needs to provide certainty and stability in key areas'. While some areas regarding energy are devolved to Holyrood, Allan added that others are reserved to Westminster and 'we must get helpful decisions from the UK Government'. He said the UK Government could provide a 'full funding package' for the Acorn carbon capture and storage project in Aberdeenshire in next week's comprehensive spending review. He also urged Westminster to set an end date for the energy profits levy, which Allan said was 'always supposed to be temporary'. 'The Scottish Government is clear in our support of the economy of the north east. We are working for a just transition for Scotland's oil and gas sector, which recognises the maturity of the North Sea basin and is in line with our climate change commitments and energy security,' Allan said. 'We appreciate that this report comes in the context of recent and concerning reports of job losses in the oil and gas sector. 'Workers are at the heart of Scotland's just transition to net zero. The Scottish Government is working with the energy sector to plan for a multi-skilled workforce and enable our skilled offshore workers to carry their experience and expertise into different roles.' The report from Robert Gordon University captured the latest industry forecasts and employment data – highlighting the widening gap between policy intent and real-world outcomes for oil and gas. One of the key findings claimed that there is 'likely to be limited capacity' for the UK offshore renewables sector to accommodate the number of oil and gas workers looking for jobs as a result of industry decline before 2027. The report added that it 'may be necessary to sustain selective oil and gas activities until the early 2030s if Scotland is to retain its offshore energy workforce, skills, supply chain, and economic contribution'. A spokesperson for the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: 'We have taken rapid steps to deliver the next generation of good jobs for North Sea workers in a fair and orderly transition as part of our Plan for Change, including by making the biggest investment in offshore wind and two first-of-a-kind carbon capture storage clusters. 'This comes alongside Great British Energy, headquartered in Aberdeen, which has already announced a £300m investment into British supply chains, unlocking significant investment and helping to create thousands of skilled jobs.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Powys County Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Powys County Times
Oil industry could see job cuts like Grangemouth every fortnight, report warns
The number of jobs in the UK oil and gas sector could plunge to just 57,000 in the next few years, with a report warning there could be the equivalent of 400 cut every fortnight. That level of job losses would be the same as the closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery every two weeks, according to research by Aberdeen's Robert Gordon University. It said in 'low-case scenarios', where the UK makes 'slower progress' as the country transitions towards renewable energy, jobs in the oil and gas workforce would drop from 115,000 at present to 'as low as 57,000 by the early 2030s'. The report added this would be a 'reduction of around 400 jobs – equivalent to the closure of the Grangemouth refinery – every two weeks'. With almost one in 30 Scottish workers currently employed in either the offshore energy sector, or an industry which supports it – compared to one in 220 across the UK – it highlighted how the 'potential risks for Scotland's supply chain and workforce are substantial'. Figures for 2024 show there were 154,000 people employed in the offshore energy sector – with 75% in the oil and gas sector and the remaining 25% in renewables. The Striking The Balance report noted the production of oil is now down by 'almost 75% from its peak' in 1999-2000, when it produced the equivalent of 4.5 million barrels of oil per day. This has now dropped to 1.09 million barrels of oil equivalent a day, with the report noting that without new licences being granted 'the oil and gas industry is forecast to decline by around 95% by 2050 from 2024 levels'. The report said: 'Depending on which scenario will play out, the direct and indirect UK oil and gas workforce is expected to fall from 115,000 to between 57,000 and 71,000 by the early 2030s, with further declines to between 33,000 and 48,000 by 2035.' SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn challenged Westminster to act in the wake of the report. He said: 'The independent expert advice is clear, we will see a Grangemouth scale of job losses each and every fortnight if the UK Government does not shift from its misguided position and protect the energy industry of today, so that the workforce can use their skills and expertise to develop the net zero industries of tomorrow. 'The opportunities of net zero are enormous but they will not be realised if the Labour Government continues with its current fiscal regime that deters stability, confidence and investment in existing industries and we therefore lose our best people, and world-class supply chain, to nations elsewhere.' Scottish Conservative energy spokesman and North East Scotland MSP Douglas Lumsden insisted however that both the Scottish and UK governments need to change their approach. He said the 'alarming' report 'lays bare the economic vandalism caused by both Labour and the SNP's opposition to oil and gas'. He added: 'John Swinney and Keir Starmer have disgracefully sat back while jobs continue to be lost throughout the sector as both remain totally oblivious to the fact that renewables alone can't yet satisfy our energy needs.' Pressed on the issue in Holyrood, Scottish climate action minister Alasdair Allan vowed ministers will 'learn' from the report, saying: 'We hope the UK Government will too.' While some areas regarding energy are devolved to Holyrood, he added that others are reserved to Westminster and 'we must get helpful decisions from the UK Government'. He said the UK Government could provide a 'full funding package' for the Acorn carbon capture and storage project in Aberdeenshire in next week's comprehensive spending review. A spokesperson for the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: 'We have taken rapid steps to deliver the next generation of good jobs for North Sea workers in a fair and orderly transition as part of our Plan for Change, including by making the biggest investment in offshore wind and two first-of-a-kind carbon capture storage clusters.
