Thursday 9 September 2004

UKOOA Statement on the Appointment of Michael O'Brien as New Energy Minister

Responding to this afternoons announcement that Michael OBrien is to replace Stephen Timms as Energy Minister, the UK Offshore Operators Association (UKOOA), the representative body for oil and gas producers on the UK continental shelf, issued the following statement:

"UKOOA would like to go on record to express our great appreciation to Stephen Timms for the enormous enthusiasm and energy that he brought to his role and our industry.  We are sad to lose him so soon, but are sure that Michael OBrien will bring equal endeavour to the job.  It is great industry to work in and Im sure that Mr OBrien will enjoy it.  He will have a great opportunity to meet with industry leaders as he chairs the next meeting of PILOT, the government / industry forum, in Aberdeen next week.  

"Our only regret is that we had hoped that any reshuffle might also have led to the lightening of the load that the Energy Minister has to carry.  The brief covers the Post Office, e-commerce and Corporate and Social Responsibility amongst other things, and we would have liked to see a greater focus given to energy, which we are sure the Government sees as vitally important."

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