Stuart Payne, CEO NSTA: Can UK Be A Global Model For Managed Transition?

In this episode of EIC Clearly, Stuart Broadley speaks with Stuart Payne, Chief Executive of the North Sea Transition Authority, about how the UK is navigating the competing demands of energy security, decarbonization and economic resilience during a period of unprecedented change.

The discussion unpacks the evolving role of the NSTA as regulator of oil and gas, carbon storage and offshore hydrogen, and explores the distinction between energy security and energy sovereignty in a world of geopolitical uncertainty and rising demand. Stuart Payne shares insights on the future of UK oil and gas production, the pace of emissions reduction, and how infrastructure, investment certainty and policy stability underpin a successful transition.

They also discuss the impact of the transition on communities such as Aberdeen, the importance of maintaining a strong domestic supply chain, and why a coordinated, evidence-based approach to offshore energy could position the UK as a global model for managing transition at scale.