Ex-military to fill North Sea skills gap
The UK Government is setting up a new national programme to re-train ex-military personnel to work in the oil and gas industry.
10billion tax raid
Thistle field grows 1,000 jobs
Nearly 1,000 oil and gas jobs are to be created under plans announced yesterday for a £169million investment in the North Sea.
£10bn offshore tax raid mistake, says minister
UK Energy Secretary Ed Davey has admitted that last year's £10billion tax raid on the offshore sector was a "mistake" - and confirmed his department had been bypassed by the Treasury.
Oil and gas deal begins ‘new wave’ of investment
The UK Government has hailed the beginning of a "new wave" of investment in the North Sea oil and gas industry after approving a £1.6billion scheme.
Energy minister Charles Hendry casualty of reshuffle
UK Energy Minister Charles Hendry became a shock casualty of the coalition government's reshuffle last night.
‘Tax rises for oil and gas if Scots go solo’
Chief Treasury Secretary Danny Alexander will claim today that oil and gas taxes could be increased in an independent Scotland.
£10bn tax raid had threatened jobs
The north-east came close to losing out on hundreds of Statoil jobs when the UK Government announced its surprise £10billion tax raid on the industry last year.
Budget bid to ‘help heal rift’
THE UK Government is working to win back the trust of the North Sea offshore industry and, in the process, pave the way for tens of billions of pounds of new investment.
Budget must bolster the oil and gas industry this time
Coalition ministers have been urged to back the offshore sector in next month's Budget - and boost the north-east economy as well as the Treasury's tax take.
Osborne tax breaks to fuel new oil boom
THE UK Government is working to win back the trust of the North Sea offshore industry and, in the process, pave the way for tens of billions of pounds of new investment.
Government reminded of oil and gas industry’s importance
A Tory MP has urged the UK Government not to forget the "enormous" economic importance of North Sea oil and gas.
Fall in UK drilling activity
Drilling activity in UK waters fell by more than one-third last year, according to a report published today.
Treasury meets industry in first fiscal forum meeting
A Treasury official pledged last night that the UK Government wanted to create a tax regime to promote investment and innovation in the North Sea.
Oil giants met Osborne to urge a rethink on £10bn tax snatch
CHANCELLOR George Osborne was asked personally to rethink his £10billion tax raid on North Sea oil and gas producers by the most powerful figures in the global industry.
P&J helps avert North Sea flight levy
Scottish Secretary Michael Moore has credited the Press and Journal with helping ensure North Sea oil and gas firms were not hit with a new levy for every worker flown offshore by helicopter.
First Oil confident of growth targets
Aberdeen energy company First Oil said the UK Government's £10billion tax raid on the industry had cost it nearly £8million.
PM pledges to boost North Sea oil and gas industry
PRIME Minister David Cameron has pledged to help deliver investment in the north-east for decades to come ahead of a visit to the region today.
Speech hints at tax breaks for companies
Ed Miliband has unveiled radical plans to reward companies which invest - paving the way for a future Labour government to offer tax breaks to some North Sea oil and gas firms.
Tax grab casts doubt on Shell’s North Sea field plan
THE UK Government's £10billion tax raid on North Sea operators has cast doubt on the future of another significant discovery.
BG unfazed by near-£200m hit from North Sea tax raid
Oil and gas operator BG Group yesterday revealed a near-£200million tax hit as a result of this year's controversial North Sea tax grab.
Norwegian giant setting up Aberdeen energy-bank branch
Norway's largest financial service group DnB NOR is to set up an outlet of its international energy bank in Aberdeen.
Knock-on effects of tax grab a concern
Business leaders said yesterday the north-east's entire economy could suffer as a result of Chancellor George Osborne's £10billion tax raid on the offshore oil and gas sector.
Transocean pulls JW McLean rig from North Sea market
Transocean has stacked three of its rigs - one which is currently in the UK North Sea - due to the drop in market demand, and is offering two of its older, shallow-water rigs for sale, according to its latest monthly fleet report.
Deloitte data points to 25% dip in drilling in UK waters
Drilling activity in British waters fell by 25% in the past quarter, according to figures released today.