BP puts North Sea business up for sale after 60 years

BP walks away from a 60-year legacy

The decision follows a review of BP's operations as the company looks to slim down.

Its North Sea arm runs five production hubs, two in the central North Sea and three west of Shetland, and employs around 1,100 people.

In 2025 the business produced 117,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day, a small fraction of BP's global output of 2.3 million barrels, the BBC reported.

The sale lands amid a charged political debate over the future of UK oil and gas.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he had told US President Donald Trump he would take a "pragmatic approach" to the region.

Trump, some trade unions, industry figures and a number of Labour MPs all back increased drilling.

BP chief executive Meg O'Neill said: "The UK has been our home for more than 100 years and will continue to play an important role in our future. We're proud of the jobs we create, the contribution we make to the UK economy, and the work we do to keep energy flowing every day."

The company said it remained committed to operating the business safely and reliably throughout the sale process.