• Action required to get on lower emissions pathways
• Asset electrification and low carbon power identified as key drivers of change
• Comprehensive plan shows industry path to success

A new emissions reduction plan published  (27 March) by the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) has highlighted the need for action across the board on production decarbonisation – including action on flaring and venting and the electrification of oil and gas installations – to ensure the future of the industry and hit net zero targets.

Production emissions reduction is one of the NSTA’s three priorities, alongside energy production and the transition to net zero. Oil and gas still meet around three quarters of UK energy need and, even as demand declines, the UK is likely to remain a net importer to 2050.

The Plan, produced after extensive public consultation and taking onboard feedback, covers four clear contributing factors to decarbonising the industry, and makes it clear that for production to continue in the North Sea, it must also continue to become cleaner.

Industry has done an impressive job in cutting production emissions in recent years, cutting production emissions by nearly a quarter since 2018 and flaring alone as almost halved from 2018 to 2022. However, they still account for around 3% of total UK greenhouse gas emissions and, as power generation was responsible for 79% of production emissions in 2022, electrification or clean power generation can play a significant role in reducing that volume.

Electrification alone could, under the best-case scenario, deliver emissions savings of 1-2 million tonnes in 2030, equal to taking one million cars off the road for a year, and a total of up to 22 million tonnes by 2050.

The Plan places electrification and low carbon power at the heart of emissions reduction and makes it clear that where the NSTA considers electrification reasonable, but it has not been done, there should be no expectation that the NSTA will approve Field Development Plans and similar decisions that give access to future hydrocarbon resources on that asset.

Electrification is not the only option. Other forms of low-carbon power will also be considered if operators can provide evidence of near equivalent emissions reduction. In cases where it is not reasonable that an existing asset is electrified, other low-carbon power emissions reductions strategies must be undertaken.

The Plan also highlights three other emission reduction pathways: investment and efficiency, focus on inventory as a whole, with increased scrutiny of assets with high emissions intensity, and action on flaring and venting.

In relation to inventory, there will be increased scrutiny of assets with high emissions intensity and their cessation of production (CoP) dates. The NSTA recognises that to secure production while reducing emissions overall, it is crucial to look at trade-offs between installations. Closing some low-producing, high-polluting installations earlier could allow higher producing and cleaner new assets to come online while still reducing overall UKCS level emissions.

The Plan emphasises that operators should take action and budget to reduce flaring and venting, with the latter focused on methane, continuing the NSTA’s ongoing work on this. The Plan also sets out a clear requirement that operators monitor and reduce fugitive emissions.

The NSTA will apply the Plan in a reasonable manner, and will not pursue actions that could bring about significant unintended consequences simply because of specific wording in the Plan.

The requirements outlined in the Plan build on existing commitments made by industry, including in the North Sea Transition Deal, with operators having agreed to deliver 50% reduction by 2030, and invest £2-3 billion on electrification. In addition, industry has itself committed to 90% reduction by 2040, and to reach net zero basin by 2050. The NSTA would welcome industry owning and delivering these reductions

Stuart Payne, NSTA Chief Executive, said:

‘Energy production, reducing emissions and accelerating the energy transition are at the heart of everything we do.

‘The Plan strikes the right balance in supporting industry in its work producing the oil and gas which we need and will continue to need in the coming decades, while at the same time playing its role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

‘The Plan will help to secure the crucial part the North Sea will play in meeting the UK’s energy needs and provide reassurance that the industry can and does place a very high value in cleaning up production and cutting emissions.’

Source: Energy-pedia

Businesses urged to embrace Shropshire’s multi-billion pound construction programme

Construction businesses from across Shropshire have been urged to play their part in helping to deliver a multi-billion pound programme of projects planned for the region.

Plans to regenerate Shrewsbury’s Riverside area and the flagship Station Quarter development in Telford were just two of the key opportunities outlined to more than 100 business representatives attending the Project Pipeline event at Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury.

The major event hosted by Shropshire Constructing Excellence, the Constructing Excellence Midlands Shropshire Club, attracted companies operating across the sector – from housing developers to sub-contractors and civil engineers to main contractors.

Mark Barrow, chair of Shropshire Constructing Excellence and executive director of place at Shropshire Council, told delegates that construction was fundamental to supporting growth in the Shropshire economy.

He outlined a draft pipeline of key projects in housing, transportation, education, health and the environment totalling £5.58billion by 2032 and estimated the potential economic impact of such developments to be in the region of £16.29billion.

He said:

“It’s been great to see such a fantastic turnout and to see so many ambitious organisations looking forward to grasping opportunities locally to grow their own business.

“We want to understand how we can help these people achieve success.

“We do great things in Shropshire and we need to work together more to create and leverage opportunities for as many businesses as possible and that’s what these networking and knowledge-building events are all about.”

The event also heard from Katherine Kynaston and James Dunn, directors at Telford & Wrekin Council, about the ongoing construction opportunities in relation to the flagship Station Quarter project which is set to provide new education, housing and business facilities.

Matt Laws, from event sponsor Shrewsbury Colleges Group, gave an overview of the wide range of training courses on offer to the construction industry including its new Higher Technical Qualifications and the newly created shorter, modular courses which aim to support industry professionals with flexible and creative learning.

“Our aim is to provide a relevant and responsive training provision which meets the skills the industry needs,” he said. “The construction sector is a priority sector for us with a specific focus on the environment and technology.

“We are so much more than a college that supports young people. We are working to support the sector and many of our courses have been developed in partnership with businesses working across construction.”

Harpreet Rayet, of Cornovii Developments, updated the event on STAR Housing’s successful retrofit project near Oswestry, sustainability plans and SAP calculations, whilst Andrew Carpenter, from Constructing Excellence Midlands, also explained how the organisation works together with SCE for the benefit of construction businesses.

The event also provided an opportunity for delegates to network and build new partnerships.

Project Pipeline event host, Amy Bould, managing director of Be Bold Media and committee member of SCE, said:

“It was fantastic to see so much appetite from businesses wanting to be involved with so many great projects and developments and we look forward to our next event which will be just as informative and engaging for those working across the sector.”

Source: Shropshire Star

British Safety Council calls on the next Government to put health, safety and wellbeing at the heart of economic growth

Ahead of a UK General Election expected this year, British Safety Council has published a manifesto containing policies to support better productivity and growth as well as ensure a healthier, safer and happier workforce.

The UK lost an estimated 32.5 million days to work-related ill-health and non-fatal workplace injuries in 2022/2023, and sickness and illness are at a 10-year high, costing businesses and the economy up to £77.5 billion a year. Poor mental health is also estimated to cost UK taxpayers around £45 billion each year.

50 years on from the landmark Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), British Safety Council, calls on all political parties and representatives to “commit to making the next 50 years the safest in our nation’s history”. Its ‘Manifesto on Health, Safety and Wellbeing’ sets out seven key calls across four policy areas: regulation; wellbeing; technology and the future of work; and skills.

British Safety Council’s calls on a future UK Government include:

• A dedicated Ministerial portfolio responsible for wellbeing, which would also be given cross-governmental responsibility for the development and implementation of a National Wellbeing Strategy
• Support for companies that invest in new and developing technologies (including AR, VR, and AI) for the purposes of improving health, safety and wellbeing standards in the workplace, enabling them to offset up to 5% annual investment
• Health, safety and wellbeing training required by law included in a new ‘Skills Tax Credit’ when reforms are made to skills-based education
• Adequate funding for the Health and Safety Executive (including the Building Safety Regulator) and for local authorities who hold statutory duties for the regulation and inspection of health and safety.

Peter McGettrick, Chairman of British Safety Council, said:

“This year we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the UK’s groundbreaking Health and Safety at Work Act, which put our country at the forefront of ensuring safer workplaces and helped us become a world leader in workplace health and safety. Ahead of the next General Election, we are calling on all political parties, party leaders, and those seeking election to commit to making the next 50 years the safest in our nation’s history.

“This is about putting health, safety, and wellbeing at the heart of economic growth, to ensure the UK remains economically competitive the future. That will require everyone – from policymakers and political leaders to employers and staff – to commit to a future where economic growth and worker wellbeing actively support each other.”

Mike Robinson, Chief Executive of British Safety Council, said:

“As part of our Manifesto, we are calling on the next Government to take a truly joined-up approach to health, safety, and wellbeing. That’s why we want to see a new Ministerial Portfolio with responsible for wellbeing and a new National Wellbeing Strategy. We believe this would improve and support better health at work, unlock lost productivity, and grow the economy.

“The world of work is changing, and we want companies that invest in new and developing technologies – like AR, VR, and AI – for the purposes of improving workplace health, safety and wellbeing to be incentivised, as well as health and safety skills and training required by law supported by a tax credit.

“We also want to see adequate resources allocated to those responsible for regulating health, safety and wellbeing at work, especially the Health and Safety Executive, which despite the progress that’s been made in reducing fatalities and injuries at work has seen nearly 20 per cent of its funding cut since 2010.”

For full details of British Safety Council’s policy calls, and to download a copy of the full Manifesto, click here

Building Safety Act transitional arrangements in England will no longer apply to your project after 6 April 2024 unless you take action

The UK Construction team has published a note highlighting that the transitional arrangements in England under the Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA) will no longer apply to your project after 6 April 2024 unless you take or have taken certain prescribed actions.

In light of the BSA’s transitional period coming to an end on 6 April 2024 and the significant impact this will have on building control processes for ongoing higher risk building works (HRBs) in-scope of the transitional provisions, this note sets out what steps need to be taken for those provisions to continue to apply to ongoing HRBs in England after 6 April 2024. The note also highlights some other important changes introduced by the BSA relating to building control professions that developers should be aware of.

Produced by Dentons, the worlds largest global law firm

Download the PDF here