Securing Labour Party support for Carbon Capture in the Humber

WE ANALYSED

Harbour Energy is playing a critical role in the UK’s energy transition as the lead operator of the Viking CCS cluster in the Humber, the UK’s most emissions intensive region in the UK.

By decarbonising the Humber, not only will Viking CCS future proof industry and protect UK energy security, but it will also play a major role in the continued economic growth of the Humber and surrounding regions.

Viking CCS has significant momentum behind it as one of the UK government’s four carbon capture priority clusters, but Harbour needed continued backing particularly with the prospect of a change of government on the horizon. Labour’s plan for a strengthened oil and gas windfall tax, and a stricter approach to oil and gas licensing risk was creating a negative external landscape for the business.

WE ACTED

We used Harbour’s investment into carbon capture to build relationships and profile with the Labour Party, and key influencers, showing how th Viking CCS project would deliver on skills, economic growth, and power & industrial decarbonisation.

Through a programme of direct political engagement and visits and a proactive and visually impactful party conference presence we opened up conversations with senior Labour policymakers.

We secured public support for the project from leading trade unions and within the region built a strong network of advocates and supporters, including an influential caucus of local Labour MPs.

WE ACHIEVED

As a result of our engagement, Harbour and Viking CCS is now seen by Labour stakeholders as a key driver of their Clean Energy Mission and priorities on the net zero transition, energy security and economic growth.

Viking CCS now has established relationships across different government departments and there remains strong backing for Viking CCS.