UK industry flags Brexit rig shutdown threat
North Sea activity is unlikely to halt when the UK leaves the EU, but the uncertainty isn’t helping the planning process
As negotiations over the United Kingdom's departure from the EU trudged on without resolution during the autumn, trade body Oil & Gas UK (OGUK) sought to focus minds by raising potentially uncomfortable scenarios that could result from a so-called "hard Brexit". In its annual Economic Report, OGUK warned that any shortage of European workers caused by the UK leaving the EU without a deal in place with Brussels could lead to shutdowns for some rigs. EU workers represent about 5% of the UK's oil and gas workforce-about 15,000—and a slightly higher proportion, 7%, of offshore workers. Specifically, OGUK set out the risk that emergency response-and-rescue vessel owners could face difficult

Also in this section
3 April 2025
Gas use in India has seen significant growth over the past year and looks set to accelerate further, even if the government’s 2030 goal remains a stretch
3 April 2025
IOCs and Western lenders are reluctant to commit to new oil and gas projects in African frontier countries
2 April 2025
The often-hidden yet powerful hand maintains supply chain linkages and global flows amid disruptions
2 April 2025
At some point it is likely that $70/bl will be quietly accepted as the producer-consumer sweet spot for a US administration having to balance both sides of the ledger