Windfall Tax stupidity2 Sep 2024 09:21
LONDON, Sept 2 (Reuters) - British government plans to increase a windfall tax on North Sea oil and gas producers would lead to a nearly 12 billion pound ($16 billion) drop in revenue to the state and accelerate a decline in output, an industry group said on Monday.
The Labour government, elected in July, has said the changes will help to achieve a ramp-up in renewable power and shift from oil and gas to reduce carbon emissions and help curb global warming.
Industry group Offshore Energies UK forecast the changes would reduce tax revenue by 12 billion pounds between 2025 and 2029 compared to the current tax regime.
Capital investment in the sector over the period is expected to fall to 2.3 billion pounds from around 14 billion pounds, OEUK said.
The proposed tax changes "will trigger an accelerated decline of domestic (oil and gas) production, and a corresponding reduction in taxes paid, jobs supported, and wider economic value generated," OEUK CEO David Whitehouse said in a statement.