EnQuest

Background

EnQuest is an independent oil and gas production and development company with operations in the UK’s North Sea and Malaysia. [1], [2]

EnQuest was formed in 2010 through the combination of North Sea assets previously held by Petrofac and Lundin Petroleum. In 2014, EnQuest acquired its interests in Malaysia. [1]

The firm has interests in six oil fields located in the Northern North Sea and holds interest in 22 North Sea licences. [3]

Stance on Climate Change

According to its website, EnQuest “recognise[s] the need for a social licence to operate” and claims that “climate change and emissions reductions are clearly areas of focus for the Company”. [4]

Regarding carbon emissions, EnQuest states that one of its core environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals is the “pursuit of emission reduction opportunities in order to contribute positively towards the achievement of national emissions targets”. [4]

EnQuest claims to be a “responsible operator” that is “focused on reducing absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions across our operations”. The company also says that it is committed to “minimising flaring” as well as “targeting a further 10% reduction in emissions from existing operations, over the period 2021 to 2023, through the implementation of various economic emissions avoidance initiatives”. [5]

However, a 2021 investigation by Greenpeace’s journalism outlet Unearthed identified EnQuest as one of the top five major polluters in the North Sea, along with Shell and Total, due to accusations of excessive flaring that contribute to an estimated four million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year. [6], [7]

Key People

EnQuest’s CEO Amjad Bseisu is a politically-connected figure who has been publicly supportive of continued exploration for fossil fuels in the North Sea, saying that there are “a lot of discoveries waiting to be found” in the region. [8]

A 2021 investigation by DeSmog revealed that the Conservative party accepted payments of over £400k from various individuals and companies with interests in the oil and natural gas industry while the government was determining whether to grant new licences in the North Sea for fossil fuel production. These donations included £25,000 from Bseisu.

Bseisu gave at least £28,500 to the Conservative Party in the first half of 2017 and has also donated to Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi, who previously worked in the fossil fuel industry and has received more than £1 million from the fossil fuel industry during his time in Parliament. [9]

As of late 2019, Bseisu was part of the Leader’s Group, an elite club of super-wealthy donors to the Conservative Party that in return gain access to high level Tory politicians including the Prime Minister.

Non-executive chairman of EnQuest Martin Houston is a council member of the US National Petroleum Council, an oil and natural gas advisory committee to the Secretary of Energy which knew about the dangers of climate change as far back as the 1970s but worked to publicly downplay the industry’s role. [10], [11], [12]

Houston is also a member of the advisory board of the influential Global Energy Policy unit at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, which is funded by major oil and gas companies including Exxon, BP, and Saudi Aramco. [13]

Actions

June 24, 2021

An investigation by DeSmog revealed that the Conservative party accepted payments of over £400k from various individuals and companies with interests in the oil and natural gas industry while the government was determining whether to grant new licences in the North Sea for fossil fuel production. 

These donations included £25,000 from Amjad Bseisu, the chief executive of EnQuest.

February 2, 2021

An investigation by Greenpeace’s journalism outlet Unearthed identified EnQuest as one of the top five major polluters in the North Sea, along with Shell and Total, due to accusations of excessive flaring that contribute to four million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year. [6], [7]

January 16, 2020

EnQuest closed its office “in anticipation of an advertised protest by Extinction Rebellion in Aberdeen” as climate activists prepared to protest against fossil fuel companies based there.

A spokesperson for the company confirmed the company closed its Aberdeen office as a “precautionary measure to ensure the safety of our people”. [14]

Related Organizations

Contact & Address

According to its website, EnQuest has two offices in the United Kingdom: [16]

5th Floor, Cunard House
15 Regent Street
London, SW1Y 4LR

Annan House
Palmerston Road
Aberdeen, AB11 5QP

Social Media

• “EnQuest plc” on YouTube.
• “EnQuest PLC” on Facebook.
• “EnQuest” on LinkedIn.

Resources

1. “About us,” EnQuest. Archived July 25, 2021. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.ph/C8RzY 
2. “Operations,” EnQuest. Archived July 25, 2021. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.ph/aY0hf
3. “Who Owns the North Sea?,” Common Wealth, July 2021. Archived July 28, 2021. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.ph/Ar0Ag
4. “Environmental, social and governance,” EnQuest. Archived July 25, 2021. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.ph/rjnVr 
5. “Environmental reporting,” EnQuest. Archived July 25, 2021. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.ph/AyRd3 
6. Laurence Carter. “Revealed: The North Sea oil giants fueling climate change with millions of tonnes in preventable emissions,” Unearthed, February 1, 2021. Archived July 26, 2021. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.ph/867iM 
7. Martin Williams. “North Sea energy firms’ flaring ‘fuelling climate change’ by pumping out 4m tonnes of CO2 a year,” The Herald, February 2, 2021. Archived July 26, 2021. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.ph/1SM5r
8. Keith Findlay. “North Sea could hold further discoveries to extend lifespan, says EnQuest boss,” Energy Voice, March 22, 2019. Archived July 25, 2021. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.ph/8vIfR 
9. Rajeev Syal. “Oil bosses have given £390,000 to Tories under Theresa May,” The Guardian, May 23, 2017. Archived July 25, 2021. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.ph/5JDGt
10. “Board of directors,” EnQuest. Archived January 16, 2021. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.ph/KIU85
11. “Members by Name: 2020 – 2021 term,” National Petroleum Council. Archived July 25, 2021. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.ph/9c1Cc 
12. Kaitlin Sullivan. “U.S. Government Knew Climate Risks in 1970s, Energy Advisory Group Documents Show,” Climate Liability News, March 18, 2019. Archived May 23, 2020. 
13. “Martin Houston,” Columbia Center on Global Energy Policy. Archived July 25, 2021. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.ph/lpkjY 
14. Mark Lammey. “EnQuest shuts office as climate protestors descend on Aberdeen,” Energy Voice, January 16, 2020. Archived October 28, 2020. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.ph/kVls0
15. “Operators directory,” Oil and Gas UK. Archived on July 27, 2021. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.ph/TLFyk
16. “Contact us,” EnQuest. Archived July 25, 2021. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.ph/dUGvi