North Sea Transition Authority

Oil and Gas Authority
North Sea Transition Authority (21 March 2022[1]–present)[i]
FormerlyOil and Gas Authority Limited (1 July 2015[2]–11 July 2016[3])
Company typePrivate limited company
Founded1 July 2015; 9 years ago (2015-07-01)[2]
HeadquartersAberdeen, Scotland[4]
Key people
  • Liz Ditchburn (Chairman)[5]
  • Stuart Payne (Chief Executive)[6]
OwnerSecretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero[7]
Websitenstauthority.co.uk

The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA), known as the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) until March 2022,[8][9] is a private company limited by shares wholly owned by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero. It is responsible for maximising the economic recovery of oil from the North Sea.[10][11] It is empowered to license and regulate activity in relation to oil and gas in the United Kingdom, including oil and gas exploration, carbon capture and storage, and offshore gas storage.[12]

The NSTA’s role is to take the steps necessary to:[13]

  1. secure that the maximum value of economically recoverable petroleum is recovered from the strata beneath relevant UK waters; and, in doing so,
  2. take appropriate steps to assist the Secretary of State in meeting the net zero target, including by reducing as far as reasonable in the circumstances greenhouse gas emissions from sources such as flaring and venting and power generation, and supporting carbon capture and storage projects.

Established in April 2015 as a non-departmental public body of the then Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (now the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero), on 1 October 2016 the Oil and Gas Authority was incorporated, with the then Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (now the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero), the sole shareholder and headquartered in Aberdeen with another office in London, which is also its registered company address. As of the 22 October 2024, Liz Ditchburn is the chair.

  1. ^ "Oil and Gas Authority changes name to North Sea Transition Authority". North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA). Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Certificate of Incorporation". Companies House. 1 July 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  3. ^ "Statement of Change of Name". Companies House. 29 September 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  4. ^ "Contacts". North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA). Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  5. ^ https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-chair-of-north-sea-transition-authority-appointed
  6. ^ "Board of Directors". North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA). Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  7. ^ "Confirmation Statement". Companies House. 15 September 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  8. ^ NTSA. "North Sea Transition Authority". NSTA - Overview. North Sea Transition Authority. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  9. ^ Kulovic, Nermina (21 March 2022). "UK oil & gas regulator rebrands to reflect role in energy transition". Navingo. Offshore Energy. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  10. ^ "Oil and Gas Authority (2015)" Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Commons. 17 September 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  11. ^ "Oil and Gas Authority: Remit (2021)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Lords. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  12. ^ "North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) (UK)". Practical Law. Thomson Reuters. 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  13. ^ "What We Do". Oil and Gas Authority. Retrieved 19 April 2018.


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