The discovery by BP of two new oil and gas fields in the North
Sea is a major boost for jobs in the sector and is further
evidence that the sector is “alive and kicking”, SNP MSP
has said.
The rebound in the oil and gas industry has seen jobs returning
to the North East and Northern Isles after the recent downturn –
and BP has also announced that it hopes to double North Sea oil
production to 200,000 barrels by 2020.
Despite the positive news, the oil and gas sector remains
threatened by the impact of a Tory hard Brexit, which they say
will cost it £500 million every year.
Commenting, SNP MSP for Aberdeenshire East, said:
“This is excellent news for jobs and the economy across the North
East of Scotland – and shows yet again how strong and resilient
the oil and gas sector is.
“Despite the doom-mongers’ claims, the sector is well and truly
alive and kicking – and with BP set to double production by 2020,
there is plenty to be positive about in the years ahead.
“However, the threat to the industry from the Tories’ hard Brexit
plans can’t be ignored, with industry leaders warning that it
could cost them £500 million a year, setting back all the
progress made in recent months and years in bringing jobs back to
the sector, the North East and Northern Isles.
“And the revenue from the industry’s rebound must be reinvested
to support jobs and to future-proof the sector from potential
downturns – yet the Chancellor’s recent budget offered none of
these assurances.
“The Tories must urgently abandon their hard Brexit plans and
begin to properly support a vital industry that has bankrolled
the UK Treasury’s coffers for decades.
“They must not pull the rug out from under the sector just as it
has got back on its feet.”
Notes:
‘BP announces two North Sea discoveries’
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-42884861
‘Hard Brexit would cost us £500m a year, says oil and gas
industry’
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/may/03/hard-brexit-oil-gas-industry-wto-freedom-of-movement
