Energy Voice – Out Loud

EVOL: NZTC, CMA and IOC frontiers

WTF? It’s acronym week as the team look at various jumbles of energy-related letters. 
Hamish recounts a wide-ranging interview with outgoing Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC) boss Colette Cohen and her successor Myrtle Dawes, as the north east’s premier start-up incubator looks to its role over the next five years. 
Meanwhile Andrew examines whether UK regulators are likely to weigh in on even more energy service mergers and acquisitions in the coming years, as corporate consolidation meets competition regs. 
Finally Ed considers the trend towards offshore and deepwater drilling as IOCs and NOCs alike are increasingly looking to make plays in some of the world’s last great frontiers. 
This week's episode is brought to you in association with our partners UK Export Finance
About Energy Voice
Energy Voice investigates and reports on what matters in global energy, helping sector leaders understand the geopolitical and economic factors underpinning current events, and giving them a view on what’s coming over the horizon. Each year, 3.4m professionals use Energy Voice as a trusted source of breaking news and insight.
For more information on how you can speak to those professionals across multiple platforms to build your brand and generate actionable business leads, visit energyvoice.com/content-services.
For a 30 day free trial subscription to the Energy Voice website and app, visit energyvoice.com/subscribe.

EVOL: Radiation, Clarification and liquefaction

Red flags have been waving this week with the Health and Safety Executive concerned about “ionising radiation” on one of TotalEnergies’ older projects in the North Sea. The company took action to tackle the problem, but there have been a number of concerns lately around safety in the region, including dangerous holes in decks and the unplanned flight of helicopter blades.
Allister drills into BP’s plans around the giant Clair field, with the company now working towards a final investment decision in 2024. Is there safety in numbers or will protests see the mass of field plans moving forwards as too tempting a target?
Around Africa a number of floating LNG plans are in the works, with the region set to lead the world for the next few years. While such plans are welcome, the big-ticket onshore LNG plans are still few and far between, with political risk and uncertainty deterring investors.
This week's episode is brought to you in association with our partners UK Export Finance
About Energy Voice
Energy Voice investigates and reports on what matters in global energy, helping sector leaders understand the geopolitical and economic factors underpinning current events, and giving them a view on what’s coming over the horizon. Each year, 3.4m professionals use Energy Voice as a trusted source of breaking news and insight.
For more information on how you can speak to those professionals across multiple platforms to build your brand and generate actionable business leads, visit energyvoice.com/content-services.
For a 30 day free trial subscription to the Energy Voice website and app, visit energyvoice.com/subscribe.

EVOL: Dreary reports, drug busts, and political posturing

If the North Sea is feeling hard done by (and it is), OEUK’s latest report shows why, with investment and confidence in the basement. There was a nice breakfast to get stuck into though, where Equinor made some intriguing comments about Rosebank.
Namibia’s name as a nice nation to do business could be nulled, after Namcor’s chair was found with numerous narcotics; but nefarious forces may be at play. Ed also gets to grips with the metric of ‘street values’.
In Scotland, there’s a new first minister who wants to turn Aberdeen into green energy superpower. For now though, industry would settle for UK Government ministers making the short flight from London to the Granite City to unveil some energy policies.
About Energy Voice
Energy Voice investigates and reports on what matters in global energy, helping sector leaders understand the geopolitical and economic factors underpinning current events, and giving them a view on what’s coming over the horizon. Each year, 3.4m professionals use Energy Voice as a trusted source of breaking news and insight.
For more information on how you can speak to those professionals across multiple platforms to build your brand and generate actionable business leads, visit energyvoice.com/content-services.
For a 30 day free trial subscription to the Energy Voice website and app, visit energyvoice.com/subscribe.

EVOL: Some bad weather and Glasgow rolls

A tsunami of strike action and a Storm Otto helicopter are on the agenda this week – along with a rainy Glasgow city centre with Ed Reed.
The team kick off with the latest with LNG developments in Mozambique. Exxon wants a new onshore plant, just two years after another oil giant declared a force majeure in the region due to terror attacks.
Next its TotalEnergies’ candid account of events around a helicopter which had its blades snap off in Storm Otto in the North Sea last month – which workers were still on the helideck. A brave move from the operator, but will others follow suit in speaking openly on safety?
Overcoming IT issues for the ages, Hamish Penman digs in to the latest on a tidal wave of strike action as 1,500 workers gear up to down tools.
About Energy Voice
Energy Voice investigates and reports on what matters in global energy, helping sector leaders understand the geopolitical and economic factors underpinning current events, and giving them a view on what’s coming over the horizon. Each year, 3.4m professionals use Energy Voice as a trusted source of breaking news and insight.
For more information on how you can speak to those professionals across multiple platforms to build your brand and generate actionable business leads, visit energyvoice.com/content-services.
For a 30 day free trial subscription to the Energy Voice website and app, visit energyvoice.com/subscribe.

EVOL: Budget blowout, boxing and 600,000 tonnes of concrete

A budget for growth or a missed opportunity? Energy Voice picks over the bones of a Spring Budget that left some wanting – from the future of the north-east’s flagship CCS scheme Acorn to the “missed mark” of a price floor in the windfall tax. 
Reabold Resources contends with a new takeover bid from a familiar name – but will a famous boxing Olympian wade into this approach? 
Finally, Allister talks – and sings – about plans for decommissioning the Ninian field and ponders what to do with the record-breaking structure holding up the North Sea’s largest installation. 
About Energy Voice
Energy Voice investigates and reports on what matters in global energy, helping sector leaders understand the geopolitical and economic factors underpinning current events, and giving them a view on what’s coming over the horizon. Each year, 3.4m professionals use Energy Voice as a trusted source of breaking news and insight.
For more information on how you can speak to those professionals across multiple platforms to build your brand and generate actionable business leads, visit energyvoice.com/content-services.
For a 30 day free trial subscription to the Energy Voice website and app, visit energyvoice.com/subscribe.

Gigawaters season 02 - 01: The future of a sustainable Scotland

The ScotWind auction resulted in nearly three times as much offshore wind as anticipated. That’s going to place unprecedented pressure on supply chains, skills and deployment.ScotWind is intended not only to help Scotland achieve its net zero goal by 2045 but also unlock billions in investment in Scotland. It's about far more than individual projects, it's about innovation, growth, long term supply chain development and Scotland’s future.
The first episode of the second season of Gigawaters sees Sustainable Growth Voice editor Felicia Jackson joined by Nick Ritchie, development director for Stromar and Richard Britton, Global Head of Offshore Wind at developer Renantis in exploring what we need to do to make that future a reality.
 

EVOL: Windfall woes and pipeline plots

Harbour Energy’s tax bill is heading into the stratosphere as the company counts the cost of the UK windfall tax. The country’s largest North Sea producer cut earnings after tax to just $8mn and warned of job cuts to come – although still managing to find scope for a shareholder pay out. 
Aberdeen Uni researchers have said the windfall tax has a number of unintended consequences, including penalising small fields and drawing out development work. 
Given these challenges, it is small wonder Harbour is working to expand in other countries, such as Mexico.  
Reports out this week have poured fresh fuel on the conspiracy theories around the Nord Stream explosions. Fingers have been pointed at Ukrainians, but information on who may have ordered such a move remains tantalisingly unclear.  
About Energy Voice
Energy Voice investigates and reports on what matters in global energy, helping sector leaders understand the geopolitical and economic factors underpinning current events, and giving them a view on what’s coming over the horizon. Each year, 3.4m professionals use Energy Voice as a trusted source of breaking news and insight.
For more information on how you can speak to those professionals across multiple platforms to build your brand and generate actionable business leads, visit energyvoice.com/content-services.
For a 30 day free trial subscription to the Energy Voice website and app, visit energyvoice.com/subscribe.

EVOL ✕ Expro: Geothermal’s time to shine

There is an appealing case to be made for geothermal to be made in terms of new baseload energy, but the technology has struggled to break through to a wider audience.
Patrick Hanson, senior geothermal development manager at Expro, and Nick Cestari, business development manager at Criterion Energy Partners, join Energy Voice editor Ed Reed to try and take on some of the opportunities and challenges in the sector.
Upfront costs might be high, but it is apparent that geothermal must play a part in the energy transition. Furthermore, a number of oil and gas skills can be applied to the sector, helping make the case for transition skills.
About Energy Voice
Energy Voice investigates and reports on what matters in global energy, helping sector leaders understand the geopolitical and economic factors underpinning current events, and giving them a view on what’s coming over the horizon. Each year, 3.4m professionals use Energy Voice as a trusted source of breaking news and insight.
For more information on how you can speak to those professionals across multiple platforms to build your brand and generate actionable business leads, visit energyvoice.com/content-services.
For a 30 day free trial subscription to the Energy Voice website and app, visit energyvoice.com/subscribe.

EVOL: New OEUK top dog, Angola Agogo, and just transition woes

Allister sat down with OEUK’s new boss, David Whitehouse, recently to ask how he plans to make the case for the sector in the face of increasing public and political opposition. It’s a tough ask, but there’s a story to tell.
In Angola, everyone who’s anyone (in subsea anyway) has won work on Azule Energy’s mammoth Agogo project, potentially signalling a new dawn for oil and gas in the West African country.
And there’s a sombre news from Fife, where dozens of workers have been let go at Harland & Wolff’s Methil fabrication yard following the collapse of an offshore wind contract. Union bosses ask, ‘where is the just transition?’
About Energy Voice
Energy Voice investigates and reports on what matters in global energy, helping sector leaders understand the geopolitical and economic factors underpinning current events, and giving them a view on what’s coming over the horizon. Each year, 3.4m professionals use Energy Voice as a trusted source of breaking news and insight.
For more information on how you can speak to those professionals across multiple platforms to build your brand and generate actionable business leads, visit energyvoice.com/content-services.
For a 30 day free trial subscription to the Energy Voice website and app, visit energyvoice.com/subscribe.

EVOL: Day Three, Subsea expo 2023

The world's largest Subsea exhibition and conference with over 6000 people from over 50 countries are expected at Subsea Expo in Aberdeen this week, and we're right here with them!
 
About Energy Voice
Energy Voice investigates and reports on what matters in global energy, helping sector leaders understand the geopolitical and economic factors underpinning current events, and giving them a view on what’s coming over the horizon. Each year, 3.4m professionals use Energy Voice as a trusted source of breaking news and insight.
For more information on how you can speak to those professionals across multiple platforms to build your brand and generate actionable business leads, visit energyvoice.com/content-services.
For a 30 day free trial subscription to the Energy Voice website and app, visit energyvoice.com/subscribe.