BP has announced plans to shed about 600 jobs from its operations in the North Sea. The oil giant said the majority of the staff and contractor posts would go this year, with the rest expected to be lost by the end of next year. The job losses amount to about a fifth of BP's North Sea workforce. BP said it was taking the step in the face of "toughening market conditions" but added that it remained committed to the North Sea. The cuts are among 4,000 posts BP plans to shed from its global oil exploration and drilling business. The announcement comes a day after oil firm Petrofac said up to 160 UK jobs could go under a restructuring plan.