We had the pleasure of having UK Minister for Energy Michael Shanks MP this morning at our North Sea Decarbonisation Conference, for which ABL Group is our principal partner.
The minister addressed, in his keynote, energy supply chain leaders, extending an open invitation to engage with himself and the government on key issues and challenges related to the decarbonisation of the North Sea as discussed at NSDC25.
“I'm really keen to engage … with those who are working on the ground, particularly in the supply chains and the various support companies and training companies and everything else that makes this system work,” Minister Shanks said.
He said although the government has a mandate based on its manifesto, it remains responsive to developments in the country and is open to accelerating change.
He said energy transition was a priority for the government and that it has already created thousands of jobs. He pointed out that transition means oil and gas will continue to play a critical role in our energy mix and our economy but stressed that a transition is already underway. “Recognising that transition and grappling with the challenges that come with it is the critical role of government,” he said.
The minister also asked energy supply chain companies to engage with its “Building the North Sea’s Energy Future: Consultation,” adding that the industry responses to this consultation will help the government to come up with a plan.
The Minister was introduced to the audience by Rebecca Groundwater, EIC’s Head of External Affairs, who said in her remarks that energy policy should go beyond the five-year cycle for it to be effective and for businesses to have long-term certainty.
The minister said he was aware of the sentiment of uncertainty among energy companies from his many conversations over the past 9 months, which he said was mainly due to issues that haven’t been solved over the past decade. He said the government will listen carefully to the supply chain and incorporate its concerns – including the pace of the energy transition – in its plans.
The two-day event started yesterday at Minster Building in London, gathering supply chain leaders to address key challenges to decarbonising the North Sea basin, such as the electrification of offshore assets, carbon capture, and decommissioning strategies, among many others. Policy issues were a theme that laced all discussions.