17 June 2015

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon spoke to 300 people from the oil and gas industry in Aberdeen today.

She spoke about the challenges facing the industry and the work the Scottish Government is doing to help.

Read the speech here

The First Minister also called for the UK Government to do more to help support further North Sea discoveries.

Last year, North Sea exploration reached its lowest level in at least two decades, with only 14 explorations wells drilled, compared to 44 in 2008.

The First Minister used  the example of Norway where the Johan Sverdrup field in Norwegian waters was discovered as recently as 2010. The field is estimated to hold approximately two billion barrels of oil.

FM @NicolaSturgeon speaking at the @oilandgasuk conference http://t.co/FqiURNHscm pic.twitter.com/aMSHF9Z7hC

— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) June 17, 2015

She then met some of the businesses at the conference to find out more about the work that they do.

. @ScotGovFM Meeting business at @oilandgasuk conference pic.twitter.com/Tb2cXjOERs

— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) June 17, 2015

The First Minister then headed to Global Port Services (Scotland) Ltd to open their new offices.

New Global Port Services facility @AberdeenEIP opened by @NicolaSturgeon this morning http://t.co/PCUIGzPyUJ pic.twitter.com/GIjE2e3ru4

— Global Energy Group (@Global_Energy_) June 17, 2015

The company supplies cranes to the oil industry and has just signed a 10-year lease for a new, expanded headquarters at Aberdeen Energy Park.