Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change in the UK, Rt Hon Edward Davey MP, visited Aberdeen yesterday afternoon for talks with oil and gas industry leaders against a backdrop of the recent dramatic slide in world oil prices.

The Secretary of State announced that he is asking Andy Samuel, CEO designate of the Oil and Gas Authority to lead an urgent commission, working with industry, to identify key risks to oil and gas production in the UKCS and identify what further measures might be taken by government and industry to mitigate them. This is in the light of the recent very dramatic falls in global oil prices and is complementary to the strategic work the Oil and Gas Authority are already being set up to lead.

Edward Davey said, “The oil and gas industry is used to volatile prices in world markets and will get through the latest downturn as it has in the past. However, given the huge value of the UKCS to the nation and the relatively high cost base that it has, I am concerned to make sure that it does so in the best possible shape for the future and well placed to deliver our goal of maximising economic recovery as set out by Sir Ian Wood.

“I am therefore today asking Andy Samuel, CEO of the new Oil and Gas Authority, to undertake an urgent piece of work, involving industry, to come up with practical measures to mitigate the immediate risks that the downturn in prices presents us with. There is a lot at stake and I know that industry leaders will lend weight to the work that I have asked Andy to do.”

“I have asked Andy to present his early findings to me by the end of February.”

Source: www.offshoreenergytoday.com

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