Oil and gasoline agency Harbour Energy plans to chop 100 offshore jobs | EUROtoday

The UK’s largest oil and gasoline producer plans to chop about 100 offshore jobs, it has introduced.

Harbour Energy has already decreased its onshore workforce by about 600 since 2023.

The firm, which has a base in Kingswells, Aberdeen, stated the newest overview was wanted to make sure it remained aggressive and was accelerated by the UK authorities’s retention of the windfall tax.

The UK authorities stated it might do every little thing to assist the employees and communities affected.

Harbour Energy stated a discount of “approximately 100 offshore roles” was anticipated following a session interval, which is now beneath means.

It added the choice mirrored decrease anticipated manufacturing and funding within the UK sector.

The firm has been a vocal critic of the Energy Profits Levy (EPL), generally known as the windfall tax, launched by the Conservative UK authorities in 2022 and prolonged after Labour got here to energy final yr.

Scott Barr, managing director of the agency’s UK enterprise, stated: “This review is necessary to ensure Harbour Energy’s UK business remains competitive as we continue to adapt to a challenging future.

“The UK oil and gasoline sector faces sustained stress from decrease commodity costs and an uncompetitive tax regime, worsened by the federal government’s determination to retain the Energy Profits Levy within the latest Budget.”

Mr Barr stated an “offshore reorganisation” was a necessary step, while maintaining a commitment to safety and regulatory standards.

He added: “While we should ship this important change, we recognise the following few months will likely be troublesome for colleagues.

“We will work closely with those most affected and provide support throughout the process.”

The session course of started on Monday, and is anticipated to finish within the first quarter of subsequent yr.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves made no transfer to scrap the EPL final week.

The levy applies to income constituted of extracting UK oil and gasoline and is because of keep in place till 2030.

A UK authorities spokesperson stated: “Our thoughts are with any workers affected by this commercial decision, and we will do everything in our power to support workers and communities.

“This follows restructuring and job losses introduced by this firm beneath the earlier authorities.

“This government has set out a plan to build a prosperous and sustainable future for the North Sea, backed by record investment to grow clean energy industries, support the management of existing oil and gas fields for their lifespan, and help North Sea workers make the transition.”

Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce chief govt Russell Borthwick stated the UK authorities had been “warned time and again” that taxation on the power sector would put jobs in danger.

He added: “Those warnings are becoming a reality.”