SIR Keir Starmer’s energy surrender would see UK rely on hostile Russia & put jobs at risk, Rishi Sunak said today.
This morning the PM announced plans for more than 100 new oil and gas licences to secure energy against evil Putin.
Rishi Sunak hit out at Labour’s plan to stop drilling in the North Sea
Oil and gas plants in the North Sea and more carbon capture will boost energy independence, he says
And he revealed the locations for two new huge carbon capture storage units which will lock dirty emissions away in the ground.
The new plants in North East Scotland and the Humber will help support up to 50,000 jobs.
The PM is up in Aberdeen to visit oil and gas industry bodies to try and draw a clear dividing line with Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer – who has said he wants to stop new oil and gas licences in a bid to save the planet.
The PM said in an exclusive video for Trending In The News: “There are some who think the way to protect our environment is to abandon British oil and gas. But that doesn’t make any sense.
“Even when we have reached net zero in 2050, quarter of our energy needs will still come from oil and gas.
“Those like Sir Keir Starmer who want to ban new licences but make us ever more dependant on hostile states like Russia.
“They would jeopardise thousands of British jobs, while protecting Russian jobs, while energy prices soar, and even our carbon footprint soars as we import gas from half way around the world.
“I believe that British energy should come from Britain.
“Today we’re committing to future licencing rounds in the North Sea.”
Licences will also be made even more flexible, unlocking vital reserves which can be brought online faster due to existing infrastructure and previous relevant assessments.
The NSTA – responsible for regulating the oil, gas and carbon storage industries – is currently running the 33rd offshore oil and gas licensing round.
The first round of new licences will be revealed in the autumn – with plans to sign off more than 100 in total.
New analysis released today claims that the carbon footprint of domestic gas production is around one-quarter of the carbon footprint of imported liquified natural gas.
It means that getting it from overseas could actually increase our carbon footprint in future.
But Labour has said they will stop all new oil and gas licences if they get into No10, saying it’s not eco-friendly to keep drilling for oil.
Starmer’s plans would see us rely on Russia for imports, Rishi Sunak says today
Two more carbon capture storage units come on top of ones in North West England and North Wales, and the East Coast Cluster in the Teesside and Humber.
Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps said: “In the wake of Putin’s barbaric invasion of Ukraine, our energy security is more important than ever. The North Sea is at the heart of our plan to power up Britain from Britain so that tyrants like Putin can never again use energy as a weapon to blackmail us.”
Ministers also announced plans to look at how they tax oil and gas in the future.
