As the UK Parliament is dissolved and campaigns enter their second full week, leading trade body Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) has challenged every candidate standing in the 4 July General Election to back UK-based energy firms and their workers. OEUK represents over 400 companies, their supply chains and their people working across oil and gas, wind, hydrogen and carbon capture technology.
OEUK’s industry manifesto, 'Unleash our Potential. Power our Future' calls on all candidates to choose a homegrown energy transition. It asks them to engage with and back offshore energy firms and their workers across the UK ahead of launching party manifestos.
Stable, long-term policies that enable fair returns are critical to ensure UK firms and their people can compete in the global race for energy investment. OEUK says over £200 billion can be unlocked and ploughed into our energy future this decade, but only if firms, skilled people and capital stay here in the UK.
OEUK has consistently said that a successful energy transition is one delivered with people and communities, not done to people and communities.
OEUK CEO David Whitehouse comments:
'The UK’s offshore energy industry employs people in almost every parliamentary constituency, from Shetland to Southampton. As candidates hit the campaign trail, we challenge them to back this sector and its workers so we can have a homegrown energy transition.
'Our manifesto calls for a homegrown energy transition that protects UK jobs, communities and our energy security whilst spurring economic growth. On this journey we must choose to build on our existing industrial strengths and put our skilled people and companies front and centre.
'We need both oil and gas and renewables in an integrated system to protect the UK’s energy needs. As we ramp up renewable energy, we will still be reliant on oil and gas for decades to come, so it makes sense to prioritise homegrown production. There will be no prizes for simply importing our energy and exporting our jobs.
'The decarbonisation of our economy is one of the greatest challenges of our time, but is also a huge opportunity. Candidates at this election have an obligation to engage with industry on how we will plan and finance our energy future. Our sector and our people must be at the centre of that discussion.
'At this crucial time, we must choose a homegrown energy transition that supports jobs, delivers economic value and energy security, while addressing our climate goals.'
Source: OEUK
