UK Oil and Gas Authority begins sanctions investigation

The OGA considers there to be sufficient initial evidence and will now open a sanctions investigation.

The investigation will now, among other things:

• Gather and assess further information to enable the OGA to reach a decision.
• Offer the companies concerned the opportunity to provide written representations.
• Decide how the case should be resolved.

A June 2019 OGA letter to licensees and infrastructure owners outlined the OGA’s regulatory approach. While praising a great deal of constructive engagement, the letter noted that: “Despite good progress we still see too many issues taking too long to resolve or ending up in deadlock between disputing parties, threatening MER UK.”