© Supplied by OEUK The UK’s recent Industrial Strategy covered almost the entire gamut of the country’s economy, with a notable exception of oil and gas.
The 160-page document mentions oil a total of three times, and gas seven (three of those alongside oil).
Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) chief executive David Whitehouse said, speaking at the group’s conference in Aberdeen, that the industry’s contribution should not be overlooked.
“It is important for the government to recognise the importance of industries like oil and gas,” Whitehouse commented.
“There are some good things in the Industrial Strategy, some good opportunities for the UK.
“But there is a piece around governments needing to recognise, not just those working in oil and gas, but those who are working in industrial Britain.
“Those jobs are the platform for future industrial success. We want to hear more support for oil and gas, but actually more support for wider industrial UK.”
During his opening remarks at the OEUK conference 2025, he said that the UK should prioritise its “homegrown energy” instead of relying on imports for almost 40% of its total energy needs.
He added that the UK is on track to produce less than a third of the oil and gas that the country will need.
“We think it’s right that we should be focusing on producing our own oil and gas and meeting more of that demand ourselves.”
He added that the UK should be targeting and producing at least half of its demand. It is forecast the the UK will require between 13 billion and 15 bn barrels by 2050, and a recent report highlighted that there is still 7.5bn left in UK waters.
In addition, with the Industrial Strategy envisioning reducing electricity bills for more than 7,000 manufacturing businesses, Whitehouse warned that this would simply be a “short-term fix”.
He said instead the UK should invest in the North Sea, boosting its oil and gas and renewable power capacity.
This would provide stable supplies of energy to fuel the UK’s manufacturing sector, he said.
But, he added: “In a country that relies on 75% on oil and gas for its energy, we are not seeing the investment we need in our domestic oil and gas sector.”
