Offshore Industry

(asked on 20th May 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to announce the details of an oil and gas sector deal.


Answered by
Kwasi Kwarteng Portrait
Kwasi Kwarteng
This question was answered on 8th June 2020

In 2018, the upstream oil and gas industry sent BEIS its first proposal for a Sector Deal. This proposal was not formally pursued as a complete package but certain aspects were taken forward, such as establishment of the National Decommissioning Centre which opened in January 2019. Following our manifesto commitment to a transformational oil and gas Sector Deal aligned to the energy transition, we have re-commenced discussions with the industry, which we are committed to delivering this Parliament.

Discussions have been held at both official and Ministerial levels and have also involved the Oil and Gas Authority. This conversation will develop further over the next few months as the sector seeks to develop its proposals and consults with a wide range of stakeholders.

Whilst there is no formal timescale for concluding a Sector Deal we recognise that the challenges facing the sector from the collapse of the oil price and the operational challenges of Covid-19 provide an opportunity to channel the Sector Deal as part of the recovery for the sector.

The meeting of the MER UK Forum on 11 June will provide an opportunity for the sector to bring forward its ideas for a Sector Deal proposal and to discuss these with industry leaders and Ministers.

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