Green Party councillor Lakshan Saldin has publicly defended his extensive career within the oil and gas industry, stating that his professional focus on the transition to renewable energy means it is "not really an issue." The Charlton Hornfair representative for Greenwich emphasized that his work over the past decade has been dedicated to shifting away from fossil fuels and advancing sustainable energy solutions.
Career in Energy Transition
Cllr Saldin, who joined the Green Party in January after resigning from Labour last September, is an engineer by trade with decades of experience in international energy projects. He currently serves as director for two consultancy firms, Knova Ltd. and Agilis Services Ltd., which provide services to clients across the energy sector. While acknowledging his past involvement in numerous oil and gas projects, Saldin clarified that his recent efforts concentrate on mitigating environmental harm from fossil fuels and developing renewable alternatives.
"My background and history is in the oil and gas industry, and it's a sector in which I still work," Saldin explained. "But all of my work now is focused on precisely that transition away from hydrocarbons and towards net zero. It's all around energy efficiency, demand reduction, and low carbon technology."
Aligning Work with Green Party Values
The Green Party has committed to halting new oil and gas projects if they gain power in Westminster, advocating for substantial investment in renewable energy to achieve a zero-carbon society swiftly. Saldin argues that his professional activities align with these objectives. He noted that any current work on oil and gas projects aims to extend the lifecycles of existing operations to prevent the initiation of new fossil fuel ventures.
"Oil and gas, hydrocarbons, coal, and other dirty sources currently make up 75 percent of the UK's energy mix," Saldin stated. "It's not something we can just switch off overnight. So it's all about minimization and managing that transition away from it."
Past Projects and Environmental Mitigation
Details of Saldin's previous assignments are listed on the website of Hanscomb Intercontinental, an advisory firm he has worked with since 2021. These include roles as a project advisor for an offshore oil and gas development in the Baltic Sea, technical advisor for an international portfolio acquisition, and project sponsor for Nigerian oil field initiatives. Saldin clarified that many of these projects occurred several years ago and that he has requested updates to the online information.
He provided context for his Nigerian projects, explaining that one involved preventing water discharge from an oil field tank farm into an environmentally sensitive area. Another project addressed a 50-year-old facility leaking oil into a nearby swamp; his work stopped the leak and converted waste gas into a domestic supply for local residents, reducing reliance on coal and wood burning.
Political Shift and Local Council Dynamics
Saldin's departure from the Labour Party was due to disagreements over national stances, including policies on trans people, the two-child benefit cap, personal independence payments, and support for Palestine. He cited the actions of Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and changes to Indefinite Leave to Remain rules as motivating his switch to the Greens, describing Labour's direction as aligning with "race baiting rhetoric."
"Forget not being the party I joined, it wasn't even the party that I had left in September anymore," Saldin remarked. "That was the final push because the Greens are actually talking about my progressive values." The election of Zack Polanski as Green Party Leader also influenced his decision.
In Greenwich, Saldin criticized the Labour-controlled council's move to limit public questioning at meetings, calling it "anti-democratic" and "completely out of order." He attributed increased public engagement to unpopular decisions, such as removing staff from adventure play centres, and pledged to defend local democracy.
Looking ahead to the May elections, Saldin expressed strong confidence in the Green Party's performance, emphasizing his commitment to progressive values and sustainable energy transition in both his political and professional roles.
