Solar Wars Part X considered the continued willingness of arbitral tribunals to accept jurisdiction to hear claims under the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) by EU investors against EU Member States, despite the judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union in Slovak Republic v Achmea (Case C-284/16), which held that an arbitration clause in bilateral investment treaty (BIT) between two EU states contravened EU law. As a result, Spain was on the receiving end of five awards made May – August 2019. However, not all Member States which reformed their renewable incentive schemes are in the same situation; and the European Commission (EC) is taking steps to reduce the prospect of future claims by demanding the reform the ECT itself.
Offshore Europe 2019 has precipitated a number of reports on the importance of Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) to achieving the UK’s net zero target. Indeed some commentators state that CCUS is essential; it is not an option.
In the 50 years since the first gas discovery in the West Sole field, technological innovation has driven exploration and production in the UK North Sea.
In Aberdeen this week more than 36,000 global oil and gas professionals have gathered to debate, lecture, promote and celebrate the achievements of the energy industry at the biennial SPE Offshore Europe conference and exhibition.
When the Russian spacecraft Venera-7 touched down on the surface of Venus in December 1970, it set about a task that only a specially designed machine could do.
There may be many ways to answer the question, ‘When did it all begin for the UKCS?’ but for the sake of argument, let’s start with the discovery of the Brent field back in 1971.
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) seems to be everywhere at moment – in just the last week, two major reports have come out calling on governments in the UK to act on its delivery. Over the last year, report after report has emphasised the necessity of CCS in tackling climate change, and the urgency of deploying it in industrial clusters around the UK.
The Oil & Gas Technology Centre is planning to set up a Net Zero Solution Centre with a view to making the UK Continental Shelf the first net zero oil & gas basin globally.
While it is becoming commonplace to hear the names of investors reported alongside the names of their investee companies who have acquired UKCS assets, obtaining investment in oil and gas projects remains a complex area for independent oil and gas companies looking to grow their presence, or international organisations hoping to invest in the UKCS.
Plant Integrity Management (PIM) believes outcome-based contracts will deliver fairer returns for all by driving innovation and subsequently improving bottom line returns and positively impacting sustainability.
Aberdeen’s destiny as a global energy capital of the 21st Century is very much in its own hands. But to fulfil this destiny it must heed the lessons of history.
“Knowledge is everything” may be an overstatement, but every aspect of all businesses, from planning, to project management, to safe operations, requires detailed knowledge.
We are all morally obliged and legally compelled to reduce our impact on the environment – and, as individuals, each and every one of us has a duty to do all we can to look after the planet our children and grandchildren will inherit.
With global climate change protests, declarations of climate emergency and the media hype around Greta Thunberg, there is every likelihood of some sort of attempt by protestors to target Offshore Europe and hi-jack the headlines with their agenda.
