Comment by BVAA Director, Rob Bartlett

Crystal Ball Time

As I write, a General Election looms and the future of our national Governance is far from clear.

By the time this magazine hits doormats, there will be a new UK Government. What it might comprise politically is anyone’s guess right now. An outright winner with a ‘workable majority’ seems unlikely we’re told, so alliances are no doubt being negotiated in darkened rooms, while their very possibility is being firmly denied in public. It’s a pantomime of sorts and I for one would welcome some clarity and honesty so that I might decide who gets my vote.

While the UK economy in general is thankfully well on the way to recovery and the steps taken thus far are, according to the head of the IMF, ‘working, ’ the state of the Oil and Gas market – nationally and internationally - continues to be turbulent, indeed unpredictable.

The steps taken in the recent UK Budget re: the UKCS, although welcome, appear too little, too late and too slow. We can but pray they have some impact.

The international situation however is like something out of Game of Thrones, and I hope it is soon resolved for everyone’s sake.

I scour O&G information sources at every opportunity at the moment in search of clarity. Regrettably the news is mixed, the signals confusing. Many BVAA members have invested heavily to cater to the market ‘as was,’ they may need to adjust themselves again for it ‘as is.’

If only someone had a crystal ball, to see into the future. The BVAA Conference on 12th May hopes to do just that! We have two speakers from EIF and Douglas Westwood to talk about the World Valve & Actuator Market Prospects and the Global Oil & Gas Market respectively. Ball-gazing is not our speakers’ chosen method, and we trust their many years of experience will shed some light onto what we might expect. We also have a veritable feast of technical speakers and it promises to be a great event.

Finally, with this issue we have reached the 8th anniversary of Valve User magazine! Its growth in volume, stature and importance never ceases to amaze, and I hope you find it as interesting as ever

Published: 8th May 2015