SCOTTISH energy minister Paul Wheelhouse is set to lead an upcoming strategic task force meeting on the future of the North Sea workforce during the Covid-19 crisis.
Mr Wheelhouse will be joined by the Oil and Gas Authority, Oil and Gas UK, trades unions, offshore operators, downstream sector representatives and supply chain companies and wider industry representatives.
It is understood the group will hear directly from the sector and supply chain on the immediate impact and response to coronavirus, and the predicted medium to longer term challenges caused by the crash in oil and gas prices.
The extraordinary meeting of the Strategic Leadership Group took place last month and will be followed by a further meeting, which will be convened virtually, on May 7.
Outcomes from the task force will then be liaised between the Scottish and UK Governments.
Mr Wheelhouse said: “The Strategic Leadership Group, which I will convene next week, will adopt a task force approach that will initially focus on the COVID-19 response, the longer term economic response and the route map for energy transition.
“It will complement and reinforce work already underway, and identify any gaps in support.
“We must ensure the industry and its supply chain continue to have a sustainable future in the longer term and that it can fulfil the important role we need it to perform in the energy transition in areas such as carbon capture utilisation and storage, the hydrogen economy and developing floating offshore wind.”
