Old King Coal’s resurrection
It may come as a surprise to you but the fastest growing part of our energy industry in the UK at the present time is coal and not renewables.
Opinion
Reflections on improving November
Apart from Bonfire Night, I used to find November a rather depressing month - when the nights grew longer, the days became colder, the leaves fell from the trees and yet another year seemed to suddenly be racing to its end.
Law now: West Africa’s issues of corruption and transparency
For many years, the oil and gas industry in West Africa has been tainted by its association with corruption, a problem that has been particularly manifest in the region’s largest hydrocarbon producing economies, including Nigeria, Angola and Ghana.
Industry fails young students spectacularly
Like many of you, I have become accustomed to the Friday of Offshore Europe being given over at least in part to subject senior academy pupils to a bit of concentrated oil and gas propaganda.
China offers an environmental reality check
A few days in China acts as a great corrective to all assumptions about energy policy and priorities, both domestically and globally.
The sorry state of UK energy research funding
If you’re in the energy sector and you’re not interested in innovation then you’re probably in the wrong job.
What does independence white paper mean for oil and gas industry?
Any division of the UK EEZ could therefore depend at least as much on political issues as legal ones, and the potential for the North Sea boundary to be ‘traded off’ as part of a wider negotiation on the division of UK assets and liabilities.
Industry must find new solutions to protect talent pool
The energy industry within the United Kingdom is in rude health.
Finding homegrown talent is key for Middle East oil industry
Nurturing domestic talent is an imperative for the Middle-east and from today’s conference sessions, it was evident that it is also a driver for regional governments who are focused on creating new jobs particularly in the technical sector to pursue a vision of optimising oil production and meeting their energy sustainability policies.
Industry prepares for ‘post-easy oil’ challenge
According to industry leaders from Taqa, BP, ADMA-OPCO and KNOC, the days of “easy” oil are over.
Wood Review: Analysis – Sir Ian pulls no punches
Sir Ian Wood’s interim report on the future of the UK North Sea really is a damning indictment of both the industry itself and government.
New look Adipec a draw for North Sea firms
A large contingent of British companies was to be found at ADIPEC, largely under the aegis of EIC, but the Scottish pavilion – organised by Scottish Development International and along the hall from team GB, beside the US pavilion – was surprisingly small by comparison.
Energy sector faces new health and safety ERRA
Section 69 of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (“ERRA”) is a key step forward in the Coalition government’s agenda to cut red tape and reduce the regulatory burden on UK businesses, however the failure of the Act to recognise the rigorous offshore safety regime could have significant implications for businesses operating in the highly regulated energy sector.
How NOCs have changed the oil and gas industry
Dana Petroleum group CEO Marcus Richards sees a major structural shift underway in the global oil and gas industry. This is a personal perspective and one that he shared very recently at a packed Chatham House seminar
Why initiating change can never be off-the-shelf
If they are to make change happen, companies must be open to working across boundaries both within and between organisations.
Security Spotlight: Kurdistan – a haven of relative peace and calm
The Kurdish region of northern Iraq could arguably be described as one of the quietest parts of the Middle East, and it is proving hugely attractive to foreign oil companies . . . particularly European and US.
Latest energy price increases are unjustified
Most of the big six energy companies have announced annual gas and electricity price increases of about 10%, which have been met by understandable outrage.
Shetland’s Viking saga and the shock Clark decision
In a nutshell, obtaining an electricity generation licence may become a pre-requisite to applications for section 36 consent for windfarm projects in Scotland.
Health check: Are you fit to manage safety?
This month we decided it was time to tax some of you a little with a simple questionnaire.
The Madness of Chancellor George’s begging bowl
They've gone too far this time . . . I mean Osborne & Co with their begging bowl in China.
PILOT Share Fair offers wealth of opportunities
As we look towards the 2013 PILOT Share Fair the UK oil and gas industry is in good health.
Japan joins Norway & US in floating turbine club
Japan has trounced the UK by developing and building a pontoon-based floating wind turbine that will start generating trials this month.
Crises bring politicians crawling out of the woodwork… as usual
Politics and energy are never far apart but the past few weeks have brought them into even closer alignment than usual. And there are huge lessons to be learned, or at least discussed.
Leading the charge for change
Following the tragedy that was Macondo, the global oil and gas industry and all its regulators and stakeholders have been self-critiquing, reflecting, measuring and analysing in an effort to learn from, improve and prevent the recurrence of past failings.
A Tale of Two Cities
At various leadership events around the world you often hear Ghandi’s famous words, “Be the change you want to see in the world”. But I found that iconic quote resonated with more power in India than any other safety event I have attended.