SUMMARY

• North Sea oil and gas production still vital for the UK, meeting 75% of energy needs
• Renewables growing but won't replace oil and gas in the foreseeable future
• Windfall tax on North Sea industry causing problems, putting production at risk

Back in the day, Aberdeen was the place to be if you were in the oil and gas biz. The North Sea was pumping out more than 2.7 million barrels of oil daily, and let's not forget the gas fields providing even more energy. But hey, times have changed, and production isn't what it used to be. Despite that, the UK's oil and gas industry still has the back of around 225,000 people.

No one's denying that renewables are making waves. Last year, they powered 36% of UK electricity, up from 11% ten years ago. But oil and gas aren't disappearing anytime soon. In fact, they still meet about 75% of the UK's energy needs. Even the Climate Change Committee says oil and gas will account for half our energy usage well into the 2030s. Plus, North Sea energy has a smaller carbon footprint than importing gas from the US and Qatar.

But, alas, the UK government hit the industry with a windfall tax, jacking up the tax rate on North Sea profits from 40% to 75%. That's one way to show off their green credentials, but it's a bit of a head-scratcher when even the government's own experts say we'll still need North Sea production for at least another decade.

The government thinks this tax will fill the post-lockdown hole in the national accounts. But with the UK facing big deficits for years to come, maybe they should focus on pro-growth policies to boost GDP instead of slapping the heaviest tax burden in 70 years on North Sea oil and gas producers.

This tax hike might seem like a good idea on paper, but in reality, it's causing some serious issues for the industry. Investment plans are on ice, job losses are mounting, and strikes are happening left and right. If the government doesn't get its act together and slash this 75% tax rate, North Sea production could be in serious trouble.

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