EVOL: Fuel crisis, gas demand, and M&A madness

This week, hydrocarbons remained the top of the global news agenda as the UK waited for its last supply of jet fuel from the Middle East. At the same time, the North Sea saw yet another operator vacate the basin by divesting its assets into a joint venture.  Host and Aberdeen features lead, Ryan Duff, north west correspondent Floyd March, and E-FWD editor Ed Reed discuss.  Up first, Ed rounds out a week of appearing on national radio shows to get us caught up the war in the Middle East and how nations across the globe are reacting to fuel shortages in the wake of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Next, news editor Erikka Askeland visited the St Fergus gas terminal to chat to North Sea Midstream Partners chief executive Angela Fletcher about the importance of gas in the UK's energy during a time of geopolitical uncertainty. And, of course, the pair had to discuss the future of the Acorn carbon capture storage project, which partner Storegga still hasn't found a buyer for. Finally, Ryan discusses mergers and acquisitions after Viaro called time on its takeover of Deltic and TotalEnergies completed its buy-in to Neo Next+. This happened while Floyd March observed the unfortunate truth about M&A, it often results in job losses. He explained how another swathe of roles had been cut at the Lindsey refinery this week as Philips 66 edges closer to completing its purchase of the facility.