Current status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 15 September 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of BP’s proposed withdrawal from the North Sea on Scotland’s energy transition workforce.
The commercial decision announced in July of a sale of BPs North Sea assets has caused great uncertainty for their workforce and the wider energy workforce in Scotland.
The Scottish Government closely monitors and considers a range of evidence in relation to the energy transition. The First Minister and I met with energy leaders in the North East in the days after this announcement, and I continue to engage with BP and other relevant partners including the trade unions to understand the potential impacts of the sale.
Our immediate concern is for workers directly affected and the thousands more across the supply chain, and the UK Government – which has responsibility for these matters - needs to take urgent action to protect jobs and investment in our energy sector.
Scotland’s energy security and economic future depend on a fair transition, where North Sea oil and gas production is managed alongside increasing use of renewables. That future is built on the world-class workers of the North East, and their skills and expertise.