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Fergus Ewing Announced as Keynote Speaker for Offshore Decommissioning Conference

Wednesday 25 September 2013

Fergus Ewing Announced as Keynote Speaker for Offshore Decommissioning Conference

Oil & Gas UK and Decom North Sea, co-organisers of the Offshore Decommissioning Conference, have confirmed that Fergus Ewing MSP, Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism will deliver the keynote address at this year’s event, sponsored by Ernst & Young LLP. The conference will take place at the Fairmont Hotel, St Andrews from 1 to 3 October.

Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism, Fergus Ewing, said: “The Scottish Government is committed to supporting and helping offshore contractors and supply companies to work together. To be involved in this year’s conference when so many offshore facilities in the UKCS are nearing the end of their life is important in showing the sector our commitment.

“Decommissioning will develop into a major business activity and it is critical that we in Scotland receive economic benefits from this.  The decommissioning of North Sea oil and gas facilities is projected to cost £31.5 billion or more over the next three decades.  This clearly represents a growing business opportunity as well as a challenge for the Scottish supply chain.”

As joint chairman of the event alongside Brian Nixon, Decom North Sea’s chief executive, Oil & Gas UK’s environmental issues director, Mick Borwell, said: “We are pleased to welcome Mr Ewing to the conference which this year will focus on assessing the benefits of collaboration. As energy minister, Mr Ewing has demonstrated an acute awareness of the oil and gas industry and the challenges it faces in terms of recovering the 24 billion barrels of oil that remain on the UK continental shelf.  The steady growth of decommissioning projects, however, represents a growing business opportunity for the UK supply chain, including those firms which specialise in delivering environmental services, and we look forward to hearing what he has to say about the opportunities ahead.”

Brian Nixon said: “The Offshore Decommissioning Conference will focus on the challenges and opportunities for decommissioning both in the UK and internationally and has attracted delegates from around the world.  However, Scotland is likely to play an important part in this growing industry and we are delighted that Scotland’s energy minister will set the scene for the two days of interactive discussion and debate.”

Bookings for this year’s Offshore Decommissioning Conference are selling out fast with only a few places remaining. Delegates wishing to attend are advised to book online here.

Ends

Notes to Editors

Oil & Gas UK is the leading representative organisation for the UK offshore oil and gas industry. Its growing membership, which comprises oil and gas producers and contractor companies, now numbers more than 380.