Should the UK grant new North Sea licences to reduce reliance on imported oil and gas?
UK North Sea production has fallen over 70% since its 1999 peak, making the country a net importer of both oil and gas. Imports now meet over 40% of energy needs, with Norway supplying around half of UK gas via pipelines and also significant crude oil. The current government policy bans new exploration and production licences but allows Transitional Energy Certificates for output near existing fields, while decisions on projects like Rosebank and Jackdaw remain pending.
4 Opinions
Killing off North Sea exploration before green infrastructure is built doesn't accelerate the transition... it just liquidates our industrial capacity.
No-brainer. But then so was our previous Energy Minister. What are we waiting for?
No brainer. We should use all our resource. I would also consider a business case for reopening the coal mines. And start to build nuclear plants in paralel. The civilization progress is relaying on access to higher and better energy sources.
Not doing so is an act of blinkered stupidity. it would reduce our dependency on imports shipped around the world.