Page 8 - Gi flipbook - October 2018

NEWS | GOVERNMENT

BEIS outlines Brexit plans

to transfer EU energy laws

THE GOVERNMENT
has announced plans for
an upcoming statutory
instrument (SI) to amend
several pieces of EU energy
legislation which will
become “retained direct EU
law” as the UK leaves the
European Union.
In a letter published
by the Department for
Business, Energy and
Industrial Strategy (BEIS),
Energy Minister Claire
Perry has outlined draft
plans to transfer “limited
energy-related legislative
functions” from the
European Commission.
According to Utility BEIS plans to transfer some legislative
Week, this SI, which is the functions from the European Commission
first of several for energy
legislation, relates to the under the Withdrawal Act which apply after Britain’s would remain in place when
transfer of network codes, will amend retained EU exit date and will not the UK leaves the EU, but
REMIT (Regulation on law to ensure it is operable automatically become would be inoperable.”
wholesale Energy Market after EU exit. retained EU law. In other Brexit news, Oil
Integrity and Transparency) Perry said: “As amended, “It provides a means and Gas UK has warned that
and the security of gas retained EU law will match of avoiding unexpected a ‘hard Brexit’ could lead to
supply regulation functions. closely the form and disruption to the energy the shutdown of North Sea
It will be made under operation it held before EU regulatory framework oil and gas platforms.
the European Union exit to provide continuity and wasting of efforts The trade body has
(Withdrawal) Act 2018 after for businesses in the and investments already released its 2018 economic
Parliament’s summer recess United Kingdom. undertaken to comply with report, warning that plans
to transfer functions to the “This includes transferring the codes and guidelines to leave the EU could cause
Secretary of State in Great functions from EU public which are already in force,” a “skills shortage” for vital
Britain and the Department bodies to UK public bodies, Perry outlines. The power North Sea services such as
for the Economy in as is intended by one of my is time limited to two years Emergency Response and
Northern Ireland. department’s planned SIs. after exit day. Rescue Vehicles (ERRVs).
When the UK leaves the The SI will be subject to the This SI also allows It also highlights
EU, the Withdrawal Act affirmative parliamentary amendments to definitions implications for movement
will integrate EU law into procedure.” and reporting requirements of critical equipment
domestic law. SIs made The SI includes powers under REMIT and to and for growing the UK’s
to create, in limited reporting templates under share of the global oilfield
circumstances, new network the security of gas supply services market.
codes and to amend, where regulation. Oil and Gas UK said
necessary, aspects of the “The ability to update all of around five per cent of the
network codes in response these is necessary to ensure total workforce comes from
to future developments in the UK’s market abuse other EU countries, who
GARETH MILNER
the energy sector. prevention mechanisms and also make up seven per
Perry explains the power plans and risk assessments cent of workers offshore.
to create new codes could for ensuring security of gas The report adds that it
not be used to create supply can be kept up-to- is “vital” arrangements are
“wholly new” ones. Instead date,” Perry writes. put in place between the
it will be limited to bringing She adds: “Without UK and the EU to allow
Energy Minister Claire Perry into UK law those already this SI, the commission “continued frictionless
contained in instruments functions in the regulations movement of people”. ■

8

News.indd 3 20/09/2018 12:14