© Supplied by Boskalis Boskalis Subsea Services has talked up the vital role the North Sea still has to play in the UK’s energy mix.
Speaking to UK energy minister Michael Shanks during a visit to Boskalis’ Westhill headquarters last week, managing director Stuart Cameron outlined the importance of making the energy industry more attractive to young people considering their career options.
“The job of a saturation diver is physically demanding and requires significant commitment and skill,” commented Cameron.
“It’s essential that we inspire and support the next generation to consider this as a rewarding career path.”
The skills gap has grown as a major challenge for the UK’s energy sector. The oil and gas sector has been shedding jobs faster than the renewables sector can create them.
An uneven transition puts the UK’s clean energy goals at risk. Concerns have risen that the country could lose the skills needed to build renewables projects.
Supporting conventional energy sources to retain workers has been touted by the industry as vital to managing the energy transition.
Cameron added: “The minister’s visit was very welcome. It gave us the opportunity to highlight the critical issues facing both our industry and the Aberdeen region. We remain confident that the North Sea will continue to offer exciting employment opportunities for years to come.”
Cameron also urged the minister to reconsider the government’s stance on halting new drilling in the North Sea, warning of the negative impacts such a policy is already having on the region’s economy and workforce.
The UK’s recently released Industrial Strategy had a considerable focus on renewable energy sources as the driving force behind the country’s economy.
Oil and gas, meanwhile, got only a cursory mention. The industry has said that the government should not neglect its homegrown resources to rely on costly and more polluting imports.
Adding to Cameron’s thoughts, Global Underwater Hub (GUH) chief executive Neil Gordon said: “We are committed to supporting the businesses that form the UK’s £9.2 billion subsea industry to navigate the energy transition and identify sustainable growth strategies.
“Conventional and renewable energy production must occur in parallel to sustain the supply chain and ensure that transition is a success for all, including business, the workforce and the nation’s energy security.”
“Government backing of continued oil and gas production is critical to the energy transition, and the recently published environmental guidance will help enable planned projects to progress is a welcome development.”
