Leading trade body Offshore Energies UK (OEUK), on September 9, brought together senior industry leaders, members of the offshore workforce, the GMB, MPs and peers from all parties, senior government officials and the Energy Minister at Westminster for a parliamentary reception.

OEUK Chief Executive David Whitehouse urged them to share the message that the Government can protect consumers and tackle climate change by prioritising homegrown energy to support the nation’s energy needs.

David Whitehouse said: 
"The opportunities to deliver a UK homegrown energy transition are huge.' He added: 'With supportive policy, our offshore energy industry will underpin that necessary economic growth." He urged government: "Please continue to work with us to turn shared ambition into action, into delivery."

The call to action comes after OEUK published a fiscal assessment last week, showing the proposed windfall tax on oil and gas companies is impacting investment. Data revealed the removal of capital allowances will ultimately result in a £12bn loss in tax receipts due to a rapid decline in production due to under-investment over this decade.

The reception, hosted by Newcastle Upon Tyne East and Wallsend MP Mary Glindon, also included speeches from the Energy Minister Michael Shanks, Shadow Secretary of State Claire Coutinho MP, Peter Welsh, Head of Campaigns, Communication and Policy for GMB and OEUK CEO David Whitehouse. 

David Whitehouse went on to say:
"Get this right, build from our industrial strengths, we create more highly skilled jobs, boost the manufacturing capacity of the country, we deliver sustainable long-term wealth, we manage our energy security and we deliver on our climate goals. 

"We need an honest conversation on how to achieve these goals. 

"A starting point must be an industrial strategy built on partnership that leverages our industrial strengths, recognises the role that this sector must play, puts innovation and technology at its heart, and ensures the UK is globally attractive for energy investment.

"Delivering secure and low-cost energy sits at the very foundation of good government. We need an energy strategy that recognises that this is a journey that will take decades.

"I fully support the build out of renewable energy at pace as vital to net zero. But today 24 million homes are heated with gas. We ignore the need for domestic gas production at our peril – you do not protect consumers or tackle climate change by importing energy at the expense of homegrown production.

"We are in a global race for energy investment that the UK must win."

KeyFacts Energy Industry Directory: Offshore Energies UK   l   KeyFacts Energy News: Energy Transition