David Whitehouse Speech – SPE Offshore Europe 2025
Good morning, everyone. Great to see a packed hall. For those who read my stuff on LinkedIn – I told you this was important.
SPE Offshore Europe has been an important event for over 50 years. This is one of Europe’s largest and most impactful energy conferences.
And this year, it comes at a critical time for the UK and our wider European partners.
The decisions taken by the UK government in the coming weeks: on oil and gas licences, reform to the Energy Profits Levy, the build out of renewable energy on the path to clean power, our relationship with European partners, will all shape the future of our North Sea.
These are important times for all of us working in the sector, our communities.
I am delighted that we are joined today by: Our energy minister Michael Shanks. The Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch, and Deputy First Minister of Scotland Kate Forbes.
We will be joined tomorrow by Claire Coutinho MP Shadow secretary of State.
In our audience we have, Andrew Bowie Shadow Secretary of State of Scotland and Melanie Onn MP for Great Grimsby. You all are most welcome.
It has been a privilege to serve as Chair of the SPE Offshore Europe executive committee.
I am delighted by the quality and diversity of conference speakers assembled.
I am delighted that the conference attracted a record number of technical papers shining a light on technical brilliance. We will have no talk of decline here.
Please join me in thanking all those who have made this happen, SPE, RX, our executive committee, our technical committee, our sponsors and our headline sponsor Total Energies.
Here in the UK, we stand at a cross-roads. A tale of two futures. One path leads to homegrown innovation, opportunity, prosperity across the country.
The other, leads to fewer opportunities, greater uncertainty, a poorer country
We must choose back homegrown energy in all its forms. Back our industries.
The sector is critical - the path to energy security, economic value, highly skilled jobs, tackling emissions. Reindustrialisation not deindustrialisation.
In a volatile world, energy security is National security. We cannot afford to get this wrong.
While we use oil and gas we should prioritise our own, all while we build out world class renewable energy.
We must take the polarisation out of the debate. A debate which too often is boiled down into binary choices.
Oil versus renewables. Clean jobs versus dirty jobs. Growth v Net Zero. These are false choices.
And as a dad, a husband, a neighbour, a colleague, the issues around energy and climate leadership deserve more nuanced discussion. They deserve more compassion.
Why? Because this is not about charts and numbers on a page, this is about people and communities.
At this conference, we must bring that to life.
Now i need your help. Who in this audience knows someone who has lost their job in recent weeks or months? Or cannot find a job?
Can I ask you to raise your hand?
Do you know someone who has lost their job in recent weeks or months?
This needs to change
Energy imports at record highs. Value to our economy being lost. Warning lights are flashing.
This isn’t about pointing fingers. It isn’t about making people feel uncomfortable.
It is about showing why this matters - that this is personal. It’s real.
To the political leaders with us today. Michael, Kemi, and Kate. To Melanie, Andrew.
This is a sector that is proud of its skills. Proud of what it has achieved.
Please, back homegrown energy in all its form. The opportunity is huge.
This sector offers a path to a positive future. Jobs and economic growth and emissions reduction and energy security
Trust me you do not build what we have in the North Sea without vision, dedication, and optimism.
This conference will be forward looking, it will be engaging. It will be inspiring. And it will be optimistic.
Welcome to Offshore Europe 2025.