South Wales has the skills and natural resources to play a vital role in the energy transition – it mustn’t be wasted.

From Neath in South Wales, Steven Rees (43) has worked in the oil and gas industry for almost 30 years, with bp. In that time, he has worked on a variety of onshore and offshore sites and led teams on one of the largest oil and gas developments in the UK region. Now, he believes that South Wales holds the key to new, low carbon technology and renewable energy that will be central to the UK’s ambition to achieve net zero by 2050.

When I was younger, I loved building and design. I would spend hours playing with Lego and drawing. My father had spent most of his working life in steel and vehicle manufacturing, and my grandfather was an engineer in South Wales.

When I completed my GCSEs, I initially planned to continue in full-time education, but my father encouraged me to consider an apprenticeship – allowing me to learn new skills while still staying in part-time education.

I spent just under five years in Llandarcy Refinery in South Wales, initially as an apprentice and then as a qualified technician. During that time, I saw many of my peers and friends leave to join projects in the North Sea. This new challenge excited me and in 1998 I was lucky enough to join the Andrew platform as a production technician in the North Sea. I spent five years on the platform, rising through the ranks to be an operator before eventually working in the control room.

In 2003 I decided to leave the platform and join the Clair phase one project, the first fixed installation west of Shetland and my first experience of a major project. I was involved in the final construction of the project in Newcastle, right through to commissioning and the start-up offshore – it was a tremendously rewarding experience. I learnt an enormous amount while working on the Clair project and even graduated with a BEng degree from the Open University, a qualification that I studied for in my spare time.

After a period working offshore, I decided to return to onshore work, with a spell in London and Aberdeen. In this time, I oversaw the design, commissioning, team recruitment and start-up of one of the largest oil and gas developments in the UK Continental Shelf, Clair Ridge. I now work as a production team leader and offshore installation manager for bp on the Glen Lyon FPSO, west of Shetland.

I believe that companies such as bp, and those in the wider oil and gas industry, have an essential role to play to support the energy transition. There is a real need for a diverse mix of energy sources, and oil and gas will need to play a role alongside renewable energy sources. The skills and expertise of those currently working in the industry will also be required to develop cleaner energy, including offshore wind, hydrogen and carbon, capture and storage.

The South Wales region has huge potential to support the energy transition. The region boasts a wealth of natural resources, including wind and wave, coupled with a rich industrial history. South Wales undoubtedly has the skills and knowledge we will need to manage the energy transition. By leveraging these skills and resources, we can tackle climate change, while also protecting and creating jobs in the region.

My advice for those thinking about joining the industry is to remember that in engineering you’ll never know everything. There will always be something new to learn, or a better way of doing things. If you’re prepared to embrace change and take on new challenges every day, then a career in engineering and the oil and gas industry is the place to be.