THE managing director of oil and gas company OMV UK said yesterday that European Union plans to seize regulatory control of the North Sea oil and gas industry could increase the risk of an accident in UK waters.
John Austin said the EU’s plans to set the rules governing safety in European oil and gas operations and how these were met could be very damaging to the UK’s health and safety regime.
Speaking at an Oil and Gas UK breakfast briefing at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, Mr Austin said countries such as Romania – where OMV also operates – would benefit from the EU proposals, but he added that it could be detrimental in regions such as the North Sea.
He said: “If some of those powers were taken away from the UK, it could be very damaging and at the very least it could cause confusion.
“If we cause confusion, there is always the chance of something going wrong.
“The regulation cannot go through as it is currently structured because it would be damaging for the UK.”
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