Chancellor urged by MP to postpone 3p fuel duty increase in January
CHANCELLOR George Osborne was urged last night to follow the expected 5p-a-litre cut in fuel duty in the isles with a freeze in tax on petrol and diesel for everyone.
Cut-price fuel for the isles could be just weeks away
The European Commission has paved the way for the UK Government to launch a cut-price fuel scheme for the islands as early as November 1.
Chancellor insists investment in North Sea will increase
Chancellor George Osborne claimed yesterday that investment in the North Sea oil and gas industry would increase despite his decision to increase offshore companies' tax bills.
Oil company boss denies bullying claim
The head of the oil company involved in BP's catastrophic Gulf of Mexico oil spill says he "cares deeply" about the way people work offshore.
Drilling boss facing tough questions over critical report
THE drilling company involved in BP's Gulf of Mexico oil spill faces a Commons grilling today amid claims that its North Sea workers have faced "bullying" and "intimidation".
UK pledge to free up development of offshore industries
Energy Minister Charles Hendry promised last night to engage in "constructive" talks with the Scottish Government to deal with infrastructure constraints hampering the development of the offshore oil and gas and renewables industries.
UK deep-water oil drilling given the all-clear
The UK Government last night insisted that deep-water oil drilling can go ahead in UK waters without waiting for lessons to be learned from BP's Gulf of Mexico disaster.
Cable rules out raid on North Sea oil riches
Vince Cable vowed last night not to raid the North Sea for money to reduce the huge UK budget deficit caused by the banking crisis.
Support surge across Europe for a North Sea supergrid
Plans for a £30billion North Sea supergrid took a step forward last night with heavyweight business support for a power network linking Scotland, Norway, Germany, Denmark, France and England.
Technip to base its offshore renewables HQ in Aberdeen
ABERDEEN has been selected as the headquarters for offshore wind, wave and tidal power activities by one of the biggest North Sea oil and gas service companies.
E-mail address for helicopter safety fears
Oil and Gas UK has set up a last resort e-mail address for offshore workers worried their helicopter safety concerns are not being addressed.
Tories to tackle offshore tax with incentives
The possibility of changes in offshore oil and gas taxation after the general election will be raised today.
Plea for UK oil and gas tax breaks ‘snubbed’
The UK Government was accused last night of snubbing the offshore industry's pleas for tax breaks and ignoring warnings that thousands of jobs could be lost if North Sea investment dries up.
Falklands drilling campaign hailed
THE imminent signing of a contract for a drilling campaign off the Falkland Islands was hailed last night as a sign of Aberdeen's development as a future global energy hub.
Darling urged to extend tax concessions
Chancellor Alistair Darling was urged last night to widen offshore tax concessions to include potential new gas fields west of Shetland.
Darling urged to increase North Sea production incentives
PRESSURE mounted on Chancellor Alistair Darling last night to increase incentives to extract the last drop of oil and gas offshore, after the government's own figures confirmed production has fallen.
Milliband claims tax reliefs will aid North Sea development
ENERGY Secretary Ed Miliband claimed last night tax reliefs in the last Budget will help develop new oil and gas finds in the North Sea.
MPs fear up to 50,000 North Sea oil and gas jobs could go
Urgent government action is needed to prevent a decline in North Sea oil and gas revenue that could lead to the loss of 50,000 jobs, MPs warned last night.
MPs back calls for action to help maintain vital exploration
MPs are poised to add their voices to demands from the North Sea oil industry for urgent government action to help maintain vital exploration and development offshore.
Brown appoints part-timer as energy minister No. 12
Prime Minister Gordon Brown was under fresh fire last night - over the way he treated the vital North Sea oil and gas industry in his government shake-up.
Personal safety beacons may be restored to offshore survival gear
SCOTTISH Secretary Jim Murphy said last night that North Sea workers commuting to platforms offshore by helicopter may have personal safety beacons restored to their survival gear.
New demand for offshore tax relief
Pressure for more tax relief to encourage offshore exploration and ease the threat to North Sea jobs was stepped up last night.
‘Clean’ power stations bid could create thousands of jobs
UK Government plans for "clean" coal power stations could create 50,000 jobs, Energy and Climate Change Minister Ed Miliband forecast last night.
Oilfields tax break may lift the Budget gloom
A substantial tax break for new investment in "marginal" oil developments offshore is expected in tomorrow's Budget.
Call to halt slump in offshore oil sector
CHANCELLOR Alistair Darling last night faced new demands for tax relief to head off decline in the offshore energy industry, after the government said it has had to put off offering more exploration and development licences.