bp boss reveals sliding doors moment

bp’s opening of its office at the Wilton Centre signals the start of it growing roots on Teesside.

Andy Lane, the company’s VP hydrogen and CCS in the UK, revealed that he nearly worked here when it was ICI’s HQ.

After graduating with a degree in Chemical Engineering Andy said he turned down a job with ICI in favour of bp. “I didn’t take it then, but it’s a sliding doors moment,” he said.  “Now, finally, I’ve got an office in this building. Good things come in the end, even though it took the best part of 40 years to get there.”

bp is committed to four major projects on Teesside: Net Zero Teesside Power, the development of a gas-fired power station; H2 Teesside and HyGreen, the creation of facilities to create blue and green hydrogen, and the Northern Endurance Partnership which will develop the pipeline infrastructure to transport and store offshore carbon dioxide.

Speaking at the opening of bp’s office Andy said: “It’s great that we have now got some real estate and can start growing roots here in Teesside.  It’s quite a long time since bp has had an office in this part of the world. This might be modest to start with but great things grow from small seeds.”

Everybody should benefit 

And, he added, it was “absolutely essential that all of Teesside is able to be part of this.” He told bp colleagues and guests, including Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen, that “It’s only fair and proper that everybody here gets access to the benefits that will come – we believe – to the region from these low carbon investments.  The region’s got a fantastic industrial heritage and past and lots of skilled people.

“We’re going to need them and we’re going to need a lot more than are currently there.  So I think for current and future generations this is the start of something new and exciting.”

bp has produced a video about its projects on Teesside.  You can watch it here: Teesside’s planned transformation into a low carbon energy powerhouse | bp (youtube.com)