Morning, Friday, 27th November 2026
Online
This conference will examine the future role of oil and gas in the UK energy system.
Discussion will focus on priorities for North Sea production, basin management and energy security, the UK's downstream oil sector and gas networks, investment, infrastructure and workforce transition, and longer-term strategy for the UK's energy system.
It will bring together key stakeholders and policymakers following the anticipated Energy Independence Bill, alongside ongoing parliamentary scrutiny of the role of domestic oil and gas in the UK energy mix, and wider debate around energy security, net zero, affordability and industrial competitiveness. Taking place at a time of new leadership in government, the conference will also provide an opportunity to consider priorities for the sector and the direction of energy policy in the years ahead.
The agenda will examine implications of the proposed statutory ban on new exploration licences for North Sea production and infrastructure, alongside approaches to managing existing fields, proposals for supporting a just transition in the North Sea Future Plan, and associated regional economic impacts. Delegates will also assess priorities for resilient downstream supply and gas system management, including refining capacity, investment confidence, and issues arising from the Government's recently concluded consultations on gas supply and the future of the downstream oil sector.
Production, North Sea basin management & energy security
Sessions will examine policy priorities and practical considerations for stewardship of the North Sea basin, including the relationship between investment and fiscal frameworks, offshore emissions regulation, and wider objectives for energy security, net zero and statutory carbon budgets. Discussion will also consider how these priorities relate to business planning and investment decisions, supply chain capability and changing geopolitical conditions.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- the future role of the basin:
- implications of planned changes to licensing and consenting
- stewardship of remaining resources, the lifespan of existing assets, sector resilience and affected regional economies
- regulatory framework:
- proposed Energy Transition Certificates - increased environmental scrutiny of projects, including Scope 3 emissions
- implications of recent legal decisions affecting developments such as Rosebank and Jackdaw
- fiscal reform:
- planned end of the Energy Profits Levy, currently extended until March 2030 - timing of transition to the Oil and Gas Price Mechanism
- interaction with the Energy Security Investment Mechanism
- investment:
- implications of changes to the tax and investment framework for upstream oil and gas - investment confidence - supply chain resilience - the UK's international competitiveness
Skills & infrastructure stewardship
Further sessions will look at implications of changes in North Sea activity and policy transition for regions and workforces with a strong dependence on the sector - particularly in North East Scotland - alongside considerations for skills transition, decommissioning and infrastructure reuse.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- skills transition:
- implications of the launch of the North Sea Jobs Service later this year, the Oil and Gas Transition Training Fund, and the Energy Skills Passport, now in active rollout
- workforce redeployment - labour planning across clean energy sectors - resilience of local economies
- infrastructure:
- safe retirement of ageing infrastructure - repurposing assets for carbon capture utilisation and storage, hydrogen and related transitional energy uses
- decommissioning:
- implications of OPRED's charging regime reform - burdens and predictability of costs - timing signals for asset retirement - approaches to regulatory oversight
Downstream competitiveness & supply chain resilience
With the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s currently reviewing feedback on the Future of the UK downstream oil sector consultation, delegates will discuss priorities for refinery resilience, industrial competitiveness, fuel security and adaptation to changing patterns of demand.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- sector competitiveness:
- options for supporting UK refineries in the face of energy, operating and carbon costs, and increasingly globalised markets
- carbon costs:
- policy options for providing greater clarity on future carbon costs - proposals for refineries to be included in the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
- design of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme, including the cap trajectory, expected price ranges and free allocation rules
- low-carbon refining:
- priorities for attracting investment to upgrade refinery infrastructure and decarbonise operations - adaptation pathways for downstream operations
- the future role of low-carbon inputs, including bio-feedstocks, hydrogen and biogas
- strategic risks:
- implications of overseas emissions, import reliance, investor confidence and downstream resilience for fuel security and industrial competitiveness
- low-carbon fuels:
- the emergence of waste-to-fuel pathways - priorities for supporting sector decarbonisation and wider development of sustainable aviation fuel, biofuels and e-fuels
Security of supply & gas network management
Further sessions will explore the future role of gas in the UK energy mix, ahead of the Government's response to the DESNZ Gas system in transition: security of supply consultation. Discussion will focus on strategic and practical considerations for maintaining security of supply, network resilience and the future role of gas within the wider energy system.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- security of supply:
- strategic and practical considerations for baseload supply - network capacity and balancing - managing stress events and system-wide resilience
- energy security:
- implications of declining domestic production and increased import reliance - priorities for diversification - exposure to global price volatility
- gas networks:
- the future role alongside widespread electrification - long-term utilisation of the network - implications for hard-to-electrify sectors and off-grid homes
- network decarbonisation:
- opportunities for gas networks - hydrogen blending and other innovations - implications for the future role of gas infrastructure
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those already due to attend include officials from the HM Treasury; Maritime and Coastguard Agency; Ministry of Defence; and National Wealth Fund.
