Since Equinor was established more than 50 years ago, the ties to Aberdeen – and Great Britain in general – have been significant. The UK was one of Equinor's first and most important customers and partners.
“We grew as a company while working with some of the UK's industrial champions. We now have our own operation in the UK, where we supply around 30% of the country's oil and gas,” Grant says.
Today, Equinor operates its British oil and gas resources from Aberdeen. Mariner, the oil project discovered at the beginning of the 1980s, is one of the fields. Equinor is also developing its next major offshore project from here: Rosebank.
Rosebank can trigger investments of about GBP 8.1 billion. The oil and gas field is expected to generate about 1,600 jobs in the development phase. In the UK alone, the peak employment of direct, indirect and induced jobs will amount to nearly 1,200.
On top of that, by designing Rosebank as a low-emission installation powered with renewable energy, Equinor believes the field can be developed as a part of the UK Government North Sea Transition deal. This way, Rosebank can bring much-needed energy security and investment to the UK while supporting the UK's net zero targets simultaneously.
But at the same time, something is on the move in Aberdeen. Europe's oil capital is transitioning into Europe's energy capital.
The wind turbines outside the city symbolise that the new industry is on its way. While still relying on oil and gas, the UK and the energy industry are moving from fossil energy to renewable energy and green technology.