MPs warn clean energy jobs not being created at the pace or scale needed to match North Sea oil and gas decline
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New report raises concerns that the scale-up of clean energy is
progressing slower than the decline of the North Sea oil and gas
industry MPs warn that while this remains the case, the UK
Government should avoid accelerating North Sea oil and gas decline
via policy Committee of MPs find that the UK and Scottish
Governments should have acted sooner to prepare Grangemouth for
resulting job losses Today's report from Westminster's
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Today's report from Westminster's Scottish Affairs Committee warns that job losses from the North Sea oil and gas industry's decline currently outstrip jobs created by the scale-up of the clean energy industry. The committee's report on the future of Scotland's oil and gas industry is the conclusion of the first part of its inquiry into GB Energy and the net zero transition. The North Sea oil and gas industry has been a vital part of the UK's and Scotland's economies but is now at a critical junction as production declines and the UK's clean energy transition ramps up. The report warns that until clean energy jobs can be created at the scale needed to match current job losses, the UK Government should avoid accelerating the decline of North Sea oil and gas production through its policy environment. MPs urge the government to urgently address this employment gap and set out how it will address this. The report concludes that as fossil fuels will continue to form part of the UK's energy mix for decades to come, there are “compelling arguments” for the gradient of UK production decline to be eased, to meet as much energy demand as possible from domestic sources. Doing so will mean Scotland retains highly skilled supply chain workers, rather than being lost to overseas markets, which are vital for the growth of clean energy sectors. In line with this, the cross-party committee raises concerns that without reform the Energy Profits Levy, also known as the Windfall Tax, will accelerate the decline of the North Sea oil and gas industry and its supply chain. The report concludes that reforms to the temporary tax, initially introduced in 2022, should be implemented as soon as possible to create certainty for the industry. The report also warns that the government should take a pragmatic approach to North Sea licensing policy and clarify how developers may be permitted to undertake additional drilling activity under existing exploration licenses. After environmental groups successfully challenged the government's approval of new oil and fields Rosebank and Jackdaw, the committee welcomes the updated guidance published by the government on the environmental impact assessments of new developments. For greater transparency and public confidence, the committee recommends that the government issue an explanatory statement following each assessment. This statement should outline how environmental concerns were weighed against energy security and economic considerations. Grangemouth oil refinery During the inquiry, the committee also took a particular interest in the closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery earlier this year, and its significance as a case study for governments' management of Scotland's energy transition. The report concludes that the UK and Scottish Governments should have acted sooner to prepare for resulting job losses and set in motion plans for the site's future much earlier. This lack of action created an avoidable employment gap and trauma for the local community. The report calls on the government to outline its learnings from Grangemouth and set out ‘just transition' principles, which can act as a guide for transitioning industries and ensure future comparable transitions can be better managed. Patricia Ferguson, Chair of the Scottish Affairs Committee, said: “Today's report outlines our concerns that jobs from the clean energy industry are simply not being created fast enough, or on the scale needed, to match the mounting job losses from the oil and gas sector. “It's vital that the government moves quickly to plug this employment gap, replace jobs being lost and ensure a smooth energy transition for workers and communities. Until this is tackled, the government should avoid making decisions that would further accelerate oil and gas production's decline. Our report sets out several ways to do this whilst still preparing for the longer-term clean energy future. “Throughout our inquiry we've also paid close attention to the closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery - the energy transition's canary in the coalmine. Without a doubt, both governments should have moved faster to prepare for job losses and the site's future, and, must learn lessons from this. “Additionally, I want to acknowledge the UK Government's recent announcement of its clean energy workforce plan. We'll be reviewing the plan with interest to explore whether it can deliver some of the priorities we outline in our report, to create good, secure jobs and support our economy.” /ENDS Notes to editors:
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