As part of BP's previously announced plan to cut 10,000 jobs, or around 15 percent of its workforce the upstream division has seen the number of scientists, geologists, and engineers drop to fewer than 100 from 700 just a few years ago.

Former Upstream boss and now chief executive, Bernard Looney has made his intentions clear internally and externally by lowering BP’s production targets and becoming the first oil major CEO to promote the transition from fossil fuels to carbon neutrality.

Staff have either switched over to work on newer ‘low carbon’ projects and divisions or have been laid off, according to a Reuters report.

In February 2020, bp set out their ambition to become a net zero company by 2050 or sooner and help the world get to net zero.

The company has  additionally pledged to reduce their oil and gas production by over 40%, with no exploration in new countries.

KeyFacts Energy: bp UK country profile