Martin McCluskey, the Minister for Local Energy and Jobs, addressed the Carbon Capture and Storage Association (CCSA) 2026 annual conference today, 14 October 2026. He highlighted the role of carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) in the Prime Minister's reindustrialisation agenda.
McCluskey, who was appointed to his new role in July, stated that his brief focuses on ensuring communities benefit from the energy transition and can seize new opportunities. He described CCUS as a key enabler for wider industrial growth, not just an industry in its own right.
The Minister explained that CCUS helps strategically important sectors such as cement, chemicals, refining, and low-carbon power generation to remain competitive in a carbon-constrained global economy. He added that it supports the decarbonisation of existing industries, safeguards foundational sectors, and fosters the emergence of new low-carbon products and services.
McCluskey also noted that engineering expertise, project-delivery capability, offshore infrastructure, and technical skills developed in the North Sea are directly transferable to carbon capture, transport, and storage. He concluded that reindustrialisation is about building future industries in places with the necessary skills, experience, and ambition.