Wireline Issue 43 - Autumn 2018

Politician’s Corner Claire Perry MP

Wireline sits down with Energy and Clean Growth Minister Claire Perry to learn more about Government plans for CCUS, a blueprint for UK shale gas development and the Industrial Strategy.

Q: You’re not new to the energy industry, but a new Minister for oil and gas – what surprised you the most about the industry? A: In my previous role as Climate Change Minister, I worked closely with members of the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI). In that role I realised how important the sector was, not just to the UK’s economic health, but to the global transition to a low-carbon economy. I specifically asked for the oil and gas portfolio because of what I learned as Climate Change Minister, and the relationships I had enjoyed developing with leaders in the industry and during my first week in post when I went to Aberdeen to visit the Oil & Gas Authority, the Oil and Gas Technology Centre, and the Maximising Economic Recovery Forum. What continues to strike me is how this sector is made up of innovators and problem solvers who are ready for frank conversations about the challenges and opportunities of the future. I was also impressed with how the industry is taking positive strides to engage and employ women, especially within a new generation of engineers who will be the cornerstone of this future.

Q: So you think there’s a role for oil and gas as part of the UK’s future energy plans?

A: Absolutely. I believe that the oil and gas industry has a crucial role through maximising economic recovery from the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) in supporting both the local and national economies. I also think in the longer- term gas will continue to play an integral role in our transition to a lower-carbon economy, as we move away

The CCUS Cost Challenge Taskforce Report, delivered in July 2018, proposes a range of measures and actions that will help inform CCUS deployment in the UK.

2 2

| W I R E L I N E | AUTUMN 2018