Oil and Pipelines Agency
Updated 3 December 2024
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The Oil and Pipelines Agency is a public corporation formed in 1986 by virtue of the Oil and Pipelines Act 1985, and currently operates and maintains the government pipeline and storage system and naval oil fuel depots on behalf of the Ministry of Defence. It’s mission is to meet the strategic and defence needs of His Majesty’s government and allied forces as may be determined by the sponsor from time to time and which are specified in the military requirements for the transportation and storage of petroleum at the lowest cost reasonably attainable.
The Oil and Pipelines Agency attracts annual remuneration.
All appointments and re-appointments have been made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.
2024
February
Oil and Pipelines Agency: reappointments
The Secretary of State for Defence has approved the reappointments of Kate Ellis and Simon Wills.
Kate Ellis has been reappointed as the Chair of the OPA for a further 4 years, with effect from 2 June 2024 and will run until 31 May 2028.
Simon Wills has been reappointed as a Non-Executive Director of the OPA for a further 3 years, with effect from the 15 July 2024 and will run until 16 July 2027.
2022
January
Following approval from the Secretary of State for Defence, Ms Alison White has been appointed as a Non-Executive Director (NED) and Chair of the Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee (ARAC) of the Oil and Pipelines Agency (OPA) Board. The period of appointment is for three years, with effect from 15 January 2022 and will run until 14 January 2025.
2021
November
Following approval from the Secretary of State for Defence, Mr Simon Wills has been appointed as a Non-Executive Director of the Oil and Pipelines Agency (OPA) Board. The period of appointment is for three years, with effect from 18 August 2021 and will run until 14 July 2024.
March
Oil and Pipelines Agency: Chair
Following approval from the Secretary of State for Defence, Mrs Kate Ellis has been appointed Chair of the Oil and Pipelines Agency (OPA) Board. The period of appointment is for three years, with effect from 1 June 2021 and will run until 31 May 2024.
2020
October
Non-executive member: extension of appointment
The Secretary of State has approved the extension of the appointment of Mr Trevor Woolley as Non-Executive Member of the Oil and Pipeline Agency Board by a further 12 months. This will run from 16 August 2020 to 15 August 2021. This post is remunerated at £11,000 per annum for 20 days.
Non-executive member: Interim appointment
Following a review by UK Government Investments which recommended appointing an independent NED in place of the Navy-appointed NED and for the appointment to follow the Public Appointments Governance Code and be regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The Secretary of State for Defence has appointed Mark Eames as an interim non-executive independent member of the Oil and Pipeline Agency’s Board. The appointment is for twelve months from 14 July 2020 to 13 July 2021. This post is remunerated at £11,000 per annum for 20 days. A competition will commence shortly to make an appointment on a substantive basis and through fair and open competition. Under section 3.3 of the Governance Code on Public Appointments, the Secretary of State consulted with the Commissioner for Public Appointments about the interim appointment.
2019
October
Non-executive chair: extension of appointment
The Secretary of State has approved the extension of the appointment of Mr Graham Ellis as Non-Executive Chair of the Oil and Pipeline Agency Board by a further 18 months. This will run from 1 November 2019 to 31 May 2021.
2017
February
Graham Ellis was re-appointed as Board Chair for a final term from 1 April 2017 until 30 November 2019. This is post is remunerated at £28,000 per annum.
Trevor Woolley was re-appointed as the non-executive independent member, also for a final term of 2 years from 16 August 2017 until 15 August 2020. This post is remunerated at £11,000 per annum.
2015
February
The Minister of Defence Equipment, Support & Technology (DEST) has been re-appointed Mr Graham Ellis for a further 2 year term ending on 31 March 2017 and Mr Peter Woolley for a further 2 year term ending on 15 August 2017.