Stuart Payne

North Sea Transition Authority

Chief Executive

Stuart Payne is the Chief Executive of the North Sea Transition Authority, responsible for regulating the UK's oil, gas and carbon storage industries. He was appointed on 1st January 2023 prior to which he was the Director responsible for the NSTA’s activities in Decommissioning, Supply Chain and also led the NSTA’s HR function. Stuart co-chairs the industry’s North Sea Transition Forum and is a member of the Scottish Government’s Energy Transition Leadership Group. Stuart joined the NSTA in January 2015 having held a variety of leadership positions in the oil and gas industry in the UK and overseas. Away from the NSTA, Stuart is Chairman of the Brightside Trust (a national children's mentoring charity) and a member of the Advisory Board of Barnardo’s Scotland (the UK's largest childrens' charity). Stuart was awarded a CBE for services to the oil and gas sector in the Queen's Birthday Honours List 2020.

Sessions With Stuart Payne

Monday, 6 March

  • 07:30pm - 09:00pm (CST) / 07/mar/2023 01:30 am - 07/mar/2023 03:00 am

    New Waves in the North Sea
    The mature North Sea oil and gas province continues to deliver; and its role as a critical supplier of hydrocarbons to continental Europe came into sharp focus during 2022. An active licensing and M&A scene has enabled companies to position themselves for the future; to sustain current production levels, and to access key acreage and infrastructure for future carbon capture and renewable power operations. Experts discuss key questions regarding the energy future for the North Sea: What will be the impact of recent tax changes on the investment landscape? Will commercial models for low-carbon activities deliver the desired returns? How might decommissioning and infrastructure aging challenge progress?

Tuesday, 7 March

  • 12:30pm - 01:00pm (CST) / 07/mar/2023 06:30 pm - 07/mar/2023 07:00 pm

    Repurposing Oil & Gas Infrastructure as Low-carbon Assets

    Mature Oil & Gas infrastructure in some cases is finding a new lease of life within low-energy hubs. For example, certain depleted fields and facilities globally are providing a service to support CO2 transportation and sequestration, hydrogen production and the use of renewable energy sources. Is this the new "oilfield" of the future, or is this a niche? Under what conditions and in which regions might this repurposing of Oil & Gas assets become commonplace?