UK energy strategy – live: PM promises ‘clean power’ while boosting fossil fuel drilling as full plan revealed
Strategy set to shun onshore wind power and clear way to increased oil and gas production
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Boris Johnson has promised “clean, affordable, secure power” and to keep drilling for fossil fuels in the North Sea in plans to bolster UK energy independence and security.
The strategy – released on Thursday afternoon – pledges to boost production across a host of energy sources in the UK, including wind, solar, nuclear and hydrogen.
It also vows to give North Sea oil and gas fields a “new lease of life”.
Ahead of its full release, the government faced criticism for failing to slash energy demand in the first place, as well as household bills in the immediate term.
Kwasi Kwarteng, the UK business secretary, admitted it would do little to alleviate soaring fuels bills now, saying the strategy was more a “three-, four- or five-year answer”.
The strategy aims to bolster domestic energy security as rising international gas prices send UK household bills soaring, while the country is moving away from Russian fuel in light of the invasion of Ukraine.
Claims over Treasury and insulation
A business minister has blamed the Treasury for a lack of extra funding for home insulation schemes.
Lord Callanan told peers it would have been “good to go further but the Treasury wouldn’t support it” after he highlighted a previous £6.6bn commitment in the current parliament.
Earlier today, Kwasi Kwarteng, the business secretary, denied the Treasury vetoed his plan to subside household insulation to reduce energy demand.
PA
No plans to ‘impose’ new nuclear stations in Scotland, minister says
Kwasi Kwarteng says the UK government has no plans to “impose” new nuclear power stations on Scotland as part of its energy strategy.
“It is a devolved affair, that is up to people in Edinburgh to decide what their nuclear policy is,” the told BBC Radio Scotland.
PA
Energy strategy ‘disappointing’ and ‘risky’, say activists
The government’s newly-released energy strategy is “disappointing” and “risky”, activist groups and NGOs said.
Stop Cambo, a group campaigning against the Cambo oil field off the coast of Shetland, said the strategy would result in more fossil fuel use, is “weak on wind energy”, relies on “risky nuclear power” and lacks measures for insulating homes.
In another tweet, it said: “The expansion of North Sea oil & gas is especially disappointing to see.
“Scientists and economists have made clear time and time again, even recently in the IPCC report, that we need to stop digging for oil & gas NOW. This just delays the energy transition that we urgently need”.
The expansion of North Sea oil & gas is especially disappointing to see.
— StopCambo (@StopCambo) April 7, 2022
Scientists and economists have made clear time and time again, even recently in the IPCC report, that we need to stop digging for oil & gas NOW. This just delays the energy transition that we urgently need
Friends of the Earth Scotland said that the government’s plan was “unbelieveably reckless”, telling The Herald that the focus on oil and gas drilling is “speeding us towards further climate devastation”.
Greenpeace UK suggested that the energy strategy would not be fully effective for decades, saying that “oil and gas from new drilling won’t be available for up to 28 years”.
The NGO also called for households with heavy energy use to have their homes insulated, as the UK has the “least energy-efficient housing in Western Europe.”
Activists occupy UK’s largest onshore oil terminal
A group of protesters have been occupying the UK's largest inland oil terminal.
The 37 activists from Just Stop Oil scaled a spiked fence and used a hacksaw to break through an unguarded rear gate into the Kingsbury site, in Warwickshire, just after midnight today.
A number of them then chained themselves to pipes, which brought distribution to a halt – hours before the government released its new energy strategy that activist groups have criticised for doubling-down on fossil fuel reliance.
Read the full story here by Colin Drury
Just Stop Oil activists hacksaw into major UK terminal and chain themselves to pipes
37 protesters broke into Warwickshire site in middle of night, bringing distribution to halt
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments