Turning proactive oil firms like Shell into pariahs is misguided
Media reports of organisations announcing divestment and a distancing from oil and gas are increasing.
Media reports of organisations announcing divestment and a distancing from oil and gas are increasing.
Regarding Greenpeace's call for drastic change, at least there are signs that the North Sea oil & gas industry – UK, Norway, Denmark and The Netherlands - recognises the challenges and is prepared to curb its emissions.
It’s fair to say that 2019 ended on a note of political and economic turmoil. But while the global oil and gas industry will face a number of uncertainties over the coming months, there is one trend I can predict with total confidence - the momentum-gaining groundswell in the adoption of data science and predictive technologies.
2019 – the year that was dominated by the ‘B’ word. But for one Aberdeenshire firm sharing the same initial letter, 2019 was less dogged by controversy, and more gilded by success. Oldmeldrum based Bethan Customs Consultancy celebrated its 4th birthday with an expanding client base, boosted turnover, and an-ever growing team.
As we enter a new decade, I’m sure I’m not alone in reflecting on matters that are personally important, together with major issues that impact on society, the environment and the economy.
It is estimated that during 2019 over 20 million people in the UK contacted the 999 emergency services to request immediate police, ambulance, fire or coastguard support or to report an emergency.
This is set to be a pivotal year for the oil and gas industry.
On the Friday before Christmas, the last of 140 workers at the Arnish fabriction yard on Lewis were paid off.
The year 2019 once again proved that oil and gas remain indispensable resources to make the world a better place. They help to improve the lives of billions of people, many of whom would otherwise lack any access to reliable energy.
News that the COP 25 meeting in Madrid ended in a not very satisfactory compromise doesn’t exactly fill me with hope that the world’s leaders have really got a grip of how serious the “climate emergency” really is.
Following the result of the general election, we can now expect to leave the EU at the end of January, although very little will change on that date as we will move into a transitional period when existing EU rules and trade terms continue to apply in the UK.
2019 was an incredible year for diversity and inclusion across Aberdeen and the wider energy sector, and we are excited to see that continue into 2020.
The turn of the year means boardroom leaders are planning – as well as playing soothsayer – for what’s next in 2020 and beyond.
With the festive season over, the start of a new year gives employers an ideal opportunity for a spring clean of their compliance processes and to identify any tax planning opportunities.
While the UKCS may be regarded as a more mature basin than those in other parts of the world, that doesn’t mean that it is standing still or slowing down.
Current market conditions are making oil and gas operators understandably cautious about embarking on mega projects. When they do invest, shorter term payback options such as brownfield developments are generally favoured over longer-term, large-budget greenfield projects.
The new year always brings into focus those things which have been delayed or ignored over the last twelve months. In a corporate setting this can be damaging to a business and in the oil and gas industry, it could have significant compliance issues. With that in mind, there are some key areas oil and gas businesses should turn their attention to, to be fully prepared for entering 2020.
There’s a popular motto among digital entrepreneurs who celebrate disruption: ‘move fast and break things.’ It was the founding creed of Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, and it reflects a culture of rushing new products and apps to market.
If I were to tell you about a dynamic, innovative, global technology company that had doubled its revenues in a single year, you’d be forgiven for making several assumptions: that the technology in question was digital; that the company was based in San Francisco or Silicon Roundabout; and that we were talking about a start-up focused on a new sector like fintech, healthtech or adtech.
The start of 2020 marks my ten-year anniversary at Xodus, and I’m pleased to say that the future is the brightest and most promising that it’s been throughout my decade with the company. We have more projects than ever, an engaged positive workforce and a strong desire to help and support both clients and colleagues.
The past decade hasn’t done much to inspire optimism about the future of the planet.
As years go, 2019 was a particularly significant one for Scotland’s energy sector, most notably with the Scottish Government declaring a climate emergency, and outlining our commitment to become a net-zero emissions economy and society by 2045.
Things can rarely be seen in only black and white.
The growth and diversity of climate change related litigation has reached a tipping point over the last year or so with higher profile cases, some of which appear to be targeting wider strategic goals beyond the remedies sought.
Optimism with reservation