Page 8 - Gi_May2020

industry & Government news

INDUSTRY GROUP LAUNCHES CRISIS COULD ‘HASTEN

CAMPAIGN TO EXTEND GAS THE DECLINE’ OF NORTH
SEA OIL AND GAS SECTOR
SAFETY CERTIFICATES

and ALMOs (arms-length management
organisations) will become non-
compliant and that you are all under a
tremendous amount of pressure.”
In April, ASCP estimated that there
were 666,667 regulatory routine gas
safety checks due to take place over AROUND 4,000 CONTRACTOR JOBS
the following months. With an average HAVE BEEN CUT IN THE NORTH SEA
of two tenants and one engineer,
this equates to two million social THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS could
interactions over the period. “hasten the decline” of Scotland’s oil
With engineers visiting an average of industry, one of the country’s leading
six to eight properties a day, there is a economic thinktanks has warned.
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ROUTINE
GAS SAFETY CHECKS ARE DUE TO TAKE risk of breaching government guidance Mairi Spowage, Deputy Director of
PLACE OVER THE COMING MONTHS on social distancing and therefore the Fraser of Allander Institute, said
continuing the spread of COVID-19. the global slump in oil prices caused
THE ASSOCIATION OF Safety and ASCP said: “The government has by the epidemic was already making
Compliance Professionals (ASCP) has provided guidance on this matter, North Sea production uncompetitive.
launched a campaign urging government which is not conclusive and firmly The GMB union also warned the
to suspend all non-essential gas safety puts the choice of compliance or sector was “in real danger of being
checks by at least three months in COVID-19 contagion on the landlord wound up” in the coming years,
response to the coronavirus outbreak. to determine priorities, most of whom according to The Herald.
The group, whose 800 members are are focused on compliance with their The North Sea oil rig workforce
responsible for gas safety in 2.5 million governing regulators and now face fell by around 40 per cent in just a
social homes, also called for a “light this dilemma.” fortnight as companies tried to stem
touch” approach to non-compliance by Government guidance notes that the spread of the virus.
the Regulator of Social Housing for the landlords must show they have taken Industry body Oil and Gas UK
rest of the year. “all reasonable steps to comply with the said around 4,000 contractor jobs
In a letter to members, Claire Heyes, law” around gas safety. However, ASCP had been cut, taking the usual rig
Chief Executive of ASCP, said: “I am said it is waiting on a response from the workforce from 11,500 to a skeleton
aware that in the coming weeks nearly Health and Safety Executive to provide staff of 7,000.
all housing associations, local authorities examples of “reasonable steps”.

BAXI CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO MANDATE HYDROGEN-READY BOILERS BY 2025

BAXI UK is to develop a hydrogen future and out actions that must be taken by
HEATING is meet the net zero carbon target. industry and government over the
calling on the The Hydrogen Taskforce brings next five years to scale hydrogen
government together ten organisations at the heart applications, specifically its
to mandate of the current and future UK energy production, distribution and storage.
hydrogen- system to offer a shared vision of the Jeff House, Head of External Affairs
ready boilers role of hydrogen in the UK’s transition for Baxi Heating, said: “Baxi and others
for all new to net zero. in the heating industry are preparing
gas boiler The taskforce has agreed a collective to deliver clean heating and play
installations position on the next steps that must our part in tackling climate change.
by 2025. be taken to ensure the UK capitalises We now call on the government to
Responding to the report from the on an opportunity to decarbonise heat, match our commitment with a clear
Hydrogen Taskforce, the company is which accounts for 37 per cent of UK message that hydrogen is one of
also calling for £1 billion of investment carbon emissions. the key solutions to deliver net zero
to prepare the UK for hydrogen The taskforce published a report by committing £1 billion towards
production, distribution and storage called The Role of Hydrogen in readying the UK for hydrogen in the
at scale, which will be necessary if the delivering Net Zero, which sets upcoming spending review.”

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