OFFSHORE workers in the North Sea oil and gas industry will be praised today for powering Britain’s economy and keeping the lights on.
Energy Minister Charles Hendry was due to “salute” the dedication and commitment of staff who spend months away from their families on the rigs.
He will also highlight the “enormous opportunities” throughout the country which will come from the £200billion of investment required to update ageing infrastructure across the entire energy sector.
In a speech to the Prospect union’s energy seminar in London, he is expected to say that more than half of industrial investment in the UK economy comes from the sector.
“The need to seal the deal on our energy security for the first half of the century within just one decade brings enormous opportunities,” he will say. “With a total of £200billion of investment required, there will be high-skilled jobs in the construction of new nuclear reactors, offshore windfarms and clean coal and gas, and of course the cables to hook them all up.
“The development of supply chains will mean that investment in new power stations will support jobs up and down the country.”
Mr Hendry will tell the trade union members they have a key role to play in the economic recovery.
“I have been constantly impressed by the dedication of the UK’s energy workforce,” he will say. “Those who spend months away from their families working offshore on rigs in the North Sea; those who deal with highly radioactive materials at nuclear plants; those who maintain offshore wind turbines. These men and women are on the front line in keeping Britain’s lights on.”
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