Discussions have been held between government and industry over how the UK could secure a chunk of a projected £6billion worth of investment in new offshore platforms.
According to industry body Oil & Gas UK, about 40 new platforms could be needed in the North Sea in the next 10 years alone.
This could be worth about £6billion to the fabrication market, said the organisation’s supply chain director David Ripley.
His comments were made following an event held in East Anglia which brought together members of Oil & Gas UK’s fabrication forum and Chloe Smith, economic secretary to the Treasury and MP for Norwich North.
Roy Lascelles, commercial director at Fife-based Burntisland Fabrications, said: “Fabrication in the oil and gas sector is responsible for the creation of many thousands of jobs and it is important that our point of view, and the problems that we face, are made known to the government.”
Alastair Kennedy, a director at Global Energy Group, said: “It is refreshing to see the UK government is being very proactive, working throughout the oil and gas supply chain to encourage and influence UK content wherever possible.”
Mr Ripley said: “Projections for developments over the next 10 years suggest there is potential for the construction of around 40 offshore structures, in a fabrication market estimated to be worth £6billion.
“Our discussions focused on how the Government can support UK-based fabricators in building capacity to service the forthcoming projects on the UKCS and on how the fabrication sector, as part of our world-class oil and gas supply chain, can best support UK trade, innovation and enterprise.”
Chloe Smith, MP, economic secretary to the Treasury, said: “Oil and gas is one of the UK’s biggest success stories, supporting high-end jobs and skills – such as in the fabrication industry.”
