英国政府决定维持对北海油气生产商征收暴利税，驳回了业界要求明年取消该税种的呼吁。
The UK government decided to stick with a windfall tax on North Sea oil and gas producers, dismissing the industry’s calls to end it next year.
根据周三公布的预算案，目前税率为38%的能源利润税将继续实施至2030年4月1日，若触发价格下限则可能提前终止。一项永久性的价格触发税收机制将在能源利润税到期后立即取而代之。
The Energy Profits Levy — which is currently at 38% — will remain in place until April 1, 2030, or end earlier if a price floor is triggered, according to the budget announced Wednesday. A permanent price-activated tax mechanism will replace the EPL as soon as it expires.
这个老化的英国盆地的油气运营商一直在敦促工党政府明年就引入新的财政机制，而不是等到本十年末。他们认为，更早切换将促进投资和生产，从而为预算带来额外的税收收入。
Oil and gas operators in the aging UK basin have been pushing the Labour government to bring in the new fiscal mechanism next year rather than waiting until the end of the decade. They argue that switching sooner would boost investment and production, resulting in additional tax revenues for the budget.
能源利润税由前任保守党政府于2022年推出，当时俄罗斯入侵乌克兰导致能源价格飙升。该政府以及2024年上台的工党都对该税进行了延长和上调，因为当局寻求充实国库。
The EPL was introduced in 2022 by the previous Conservative government after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sent energy prices soaring. It was extended and increased by that administration and by the Labour Party when it came to power in 2024 as authorities sought to bolster state coffers.
生产商抱怨称，能源利润税使英国的投资吸引力下降，近年来多家公司重新评估其在英国的业务，并选择出售、合并或缩减运营。英国石油公司是最后一家在北海拥有独立业务的石油巨头，目前正着手退出该地区。
Producers have complained that the EPL makes Britain less attractive for investment, with several reassessing their UK activities and opting to sell, merge or scale back operations in recent years. BP Plc, the last remaining oil major to have its own standalone North Sea business, is working to exit the area.
如果油气价格在持续一段时间内跌破特定门槛，能源利润税可能在2030年之前被取消。根据周三发布的《经济与财政展望》，预算责任办公室估计，价格可能在2029年9月触发该税的终止。该办公室表示，这比3月份的预测晚了两年。
The EPL may be removed before 2030 if oil and gas prices drop below a specific threshold for a sustained period. The Office for Budget Responsibility estimates that prices could trigger its termination in September 2029, according to an economic and fiscal outlook published Wednesday. That’s two years later than forecast in March, the OBR said.
本月早些时候，英国财政大臣约翰·希利表示，英国正在设立一个新的能源财富基金——初始资金为20亿英镑（27亿美元）——该基金将利用北海石油和天然气的税收收入投资清洁能源项目。这一宣布是在政府批准杰克道气田项目之际作出的，该项目一直受到环保组织的批评。
Earlier this month, Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey said the UK was setting up a new Energy Wealth Fund — starting with £2 billion ($2.7 billion) of funding — which will use tax revenues from North Sea oil and gas to invest in clean energy projects. The announcement came as the government gave the go-ahead for the Jackdaw gas field, a project that’s been criticized by environmental groups.