Page 9 - Gi flipbook August 2018

Brexit uncertainty could mean in another country because
of that uncertainty of what
‘missed opportunity’ for North Sea the terms may ultimately be
in another year.
“That is the part that is
impacting us and that is the
UNCERTAINTY high quality goods and staff potential impact of Brexit, part that needs to be sorted
SURROUNDING BREXIT for the industry. the centre’s Chief Executive out as quickly as possible.”
could result in a “missed The committee was Colette Cohen said the Professor Paul de Leeuw,
opportunity” for the North taking evidence from a industry had to consider the Director of the Oil and Gas
Sea oil and gas industry, panel of experts at the Oil potential cost of leaving the Institute at Robert Gordon
MPs have been told. and Gas Technology Centre EU and whether it would University, added: “Where
Westminster’s Scottish in Aberdeen as part of an impact on competitiveness. we see particularly the
Affairs Committee heard inquiry into the future of She said: “The biggest biggest issue on Brexit from
concerns that leaving the the industry, reports The challenge for the industry over an oil and gas perspective,
EU could have an impact on Scotsman. the next year and certainly and I do not make a
investment and access to Asked about the one we’re experiencing now political point here, is
is the uncertainty. round the potential impact
RGU “The industry is a global between what is currently
market, they will make in place and going to WTO
whatever market they are in (World Trade Organisation)
work or they will withdraw, tariff arrangements.
but uncertainty creates that “We see that as having
missed opportunity, whether quite an impact on the
it’s a missed opportunity supply chain in terms of
in investment right now additional cost.
Professor Paul de Leeuw, Director in the North Sea, whether “The other one is access
of the Oil and Gas Institute at it’s growth in their current to high quality resources and
Robert Gordon University business, whether it’s the particularly people, either EU
ability to secure a contract citizens or non EU citizens.” ■

MPs warn that shifting fracking decisions to

national level would be ‘hugely harmful’

STRIPPING LOCAL projects regime, as part of permitted development Ken Cronin, Chief
PLANNING authorities of efforts to get the industry rights, commonly used in Executive of UK Onshore
decision-making on fracking up and running, reports home extensions to allow Oil & Gas, responded: “The
in their area would be Energy Voice. small-scale work without report fails to address
“hugely harmful” to local But moving decisions planning permission. a main concern of both
democracy, MPs have on fracking planning Committee Chairman the industry and local
warned. applications to a national Clive Betts said: “Taking communities, which is
The government has level is likely to exacerbate decision-making powers the fact that planning
proposed a move to deal mistrust between away from local planning applications for even the
with planning applications communities and the authorities would be a simplest of wells now
for fracking at a national industry, the parliamentary backward step. take up to 18 months to
level, under the nationally Housing, Communities “It would remove the conclude and that many of
significant infrastructure and Local Government important link between the professional planning
Committee said. fracking applications and officers’ recommendations
Housing, There is little evidence local plans and be hugely are ignored.
Communities that it would speed up harmful to local democracy “This leaves communities
and Local the planning application and the principles and spirit with uncertainty and local
Government process and “could be of localism. taxpayers with a huge bill
Committee perceived as a significant “It is mineral planning to foot, and is against the
Chairman Clive loss to local decision- authorities that have experience of the previous
Betts
making” a report from the the knowledge of their 10 years where most
committee said. areas needed to judge applications were decided in
The report also warned the impacts of fracking, less than four months and
against plans to give non- not ministers sitting in against a statutory timescale
fracking shale exploration Whitehall.” of three months.” ■

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News.indd 4 19/07/2018 12:46