BG’s Andy Samuel named chief executive of OGA

Andy Samuel, currently Managing Director of BG Group’s Exploration and Production in Europe, has been appointed as the chief executive of the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA).

The government is also asking industry and others for their views on how best to deliver the next stage of Ian Wood’s recommendations. In a call for evidence industry are being asked for views on the governance and scope of the new regulator, the Maximising Economic Recovery UK strategy, the new regulatory powers of the Oil and Gas Authority and its sanctions regime and the cost recovery mechanism.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey said: “‘It’s vital for Government to work closely with industry to maintain Britain’s energy security and Andy is superbly placed to steer the OGA to maximise the economic recovery of our oil and gas resources. We’re also asking industry for their views to make sure we implement the Wood Review recommendations in the most efficient and practical way.’

Chief secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said that oil and gas is one of the UK’s most valuable industries, supporting 450,000 jobs in Scotland and across the country.

New Chief Executive of the OGA, Andy Samuel said, “I am honoured to have been chosen to lead the OGA. I know first-hand the challenges industry currently faces and am confident that implementing the vision set out in the Wood Review will create a strong future for the UK’s oil and gas industry. I have much enjoyed my time at BG Group, with a lot to be grateful for, and am now looking forward to establishing the OGA and setting its priorities in the New Year.”

This is one of the first major milestones in establishing the OGA, a key recommendation in the Wood Review. The OGA will be a strong, proactive and informed regulator that will be tasked with maximising the economic recovery of the UK’s oil and gas resources, and will be established in April 2015. Samuel will begin his role officially on 1st January 2015 .

Also being announced are the 134 licences covering 252 blocks offered in the 28th offshore licensing round. A further group of applications will be decided later, after environmental assessments, but this looks like being one of the biggest rounds ever in the five decades since the first licensing round in 1964.

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Press Release; Image: gov.uk