BP to cut more than 350 jobs
Oil giant BP today announced plans to cut more than 350 jobs at its North Sea headquarters.
The posts are under threat at the company’s Aberdeen base following a fall in production levels and rising costs.
A BP spokesman said the situation was “regrettable” but necessary to secure its long-term future in the North Sea.
The proposed job cuts form part of a general restructuring at BP.
The spokesman said this was in response to declining production in the increasingly mature North Sea and rapidly rising costs.
“Regrettably, the company anticipates that the changes may result in the loss of some BP staff and contractor positions which support its operations in the UK.
“BP estimates that somewhere in the region of 350 positions could be affected, from a total onshore staff and contractor workforce of 2,100.
“Most of these office-based support jobs are based in BP’s North Sea operations HQ in Aberdeen.
“The company will consult with staff over the coming months and into 2008 on how these changes will be implemented and seeks their views on how the impact on jobs can be minimised or mitigated.”
BP will announce exactly how many jobs will be lost early next year.
The job cuts are expected to be made by March.
BP said 250 of the affected jobs were onshore office-based staff. The remaining 100 were onshore contractors.
The Aberdeen HQ will bear the brunt of the cuts.
Other affected sites are the Sullom Voe oil terminal in Shetland, the CATS gas terminal at Teeside, the gas terminal at Dimlington in Humberside and the Wytch Farm oil field in Dorset.
BP said the announcement would not affect planned opening of its new North Sea headquarters building in Dyce, on the outskirts of Aberdeen, next year.
Andy Inglis, BP’s chief executive for exploration and production, said: “These plans are an important step in delivering BP’s agenda of simplifying how the company is run and ensuring resources are focused on front-line delivery.
“Furthermore they will help secure our continuing presence in the North Sea.”
