Safe oil & gas production to support Europe’s energy supply

10Mar
2015
Dinner debate in Strasbourg
  • Roland Festor, Director for European Union Affairs at the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (IOGP)

Interventions by:

  • Jan PanekHead of Unit ‘Retail markets: oil and coal’ at DG Energy
  • With the participation of Dr Jörg Köhli, Team Leader for Offshore Safety of Oil and Gas Operations, DG Energy

 

At a time when security of supply has become a key word in the European institutions, the dinner-debate hosted by the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (IOGP) was the occasion to reflect on indigenous energy production. While domestic production of oil and gas can be seen as essential to secure Europe’s energy supply, guaranteeing the safety of operations is crucial for people and the environment.

At the moment, 33% of gas and 15% of oil consumed in the Union is produced locally. Against this backdrop, Mr Roland Festor, EU Affairs Director at IOGP drew participants’ attention on the paradoxical slowdown in oil and gas exploration programmes in Europe as well as on the need to drill further from the shore and in deeper waters which has made conditions of production harsher.

In response to some oil spill incidents, the European Commission published the Directive 2013/30/EU on Safety of Offshore Oil and Gas Operations in June 2013, which establishes minimum requirements for preventing major accidents. On its part, the industry has made good progress in improving prevention and responding to such accidents. Mr Festor raised the example of an integrated intervention system that includes well capping and dispersant equipment and that can be deployed internationally in the event of a subsea incident.

This short information session gave rise to an instructive discussion with representatives from the European Commission and Members of the European Parliament on the risks and benefits linked to offshore production of energy.

It was a pleasure to welcome our members to this dinner-debate.

Participation is open to all MEPs interested in energy issues. Please contact the EEF if you are an MEP and you wish to take part in our debates.

All EEF discussions are held under Chatham House Rule to provide anonymity to speakers and to encourage openness and sharing of information during the debate.

The EEF is a membership-driven organisation. We are pleased to welcome non-member companies eligible for membership to two of our events. After, we reserve the right to request membership for further attendance at events.