Kemi Badenoch has pledged that the Conservative Party will seek to “maximise extraction” of oil and gas from the North Sea if it returns to power. The Tory leader is set to outline these plans in an upcoming speech in Aberdeen, focusing on extracting as much fossil fuel as possible rather than moving away from them.
She will announce a restructuring of the North Sea Transition Authority, which manages licensing, by removing the word “transition” from its name and replacing its 12-page mandate with a straightforward directive to extract the maximum amount of fossil fuels. Badenoch argued that Britain “cannot afford not to be doing everything to get hydrocarbons out of the ground” to support economic growth.
She stated: “We are in the absurd situation where our country is leaving vital resources untapped while neighbours like Norway extract them from the same seabed. Britain has decarbonised more than any other major economy since 1990, yet we face some of the highest energy prices in the developed world. This is not sustainable and cannot continue. That is why I am calling time on this unilateral act of economic disarmament and Labour’s unrealistic ideology of net zero by 2050.
A future Conservative government will remove all mandates for the North Sea beyond maximising extraction. It is time for common sense, economic growth, and our national interest to come first—and only the Conservatives will deliver that. We are going to get all our oil and gas out of the North Sea.”
Last month, Ed Miliband, the energy and net zero secretary, accused the Conservatives of being “anti-science” for abandoning the political consensus on net zero. In the first of what is promised to be an annual “state of the climate” report, the Labour MP presented findings from a Met Office-led study showing the UK has become hotter and wetter, with an increase in extreme weather events.
Miliband quoted former Prime Minister Theresa May, who enshrined net zero targets into law in 2019 and argued that the real climate zealots are “populists who offer only easy answers to complex questions.” He added, “I couldn’t put it better myself.”
A spokesperson for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero responded: “We are already delivering a fair and orderly transition in the North Sea to drive growth and secure skilled jobs for future generations, with the largest ever investment in offshore wind and three pioneering carbon capture and storage clusters. We remain committed to our manifesto pledge not to issue new licences for exploring new fields, as they would not reduce bills, cannot enhance energy security, and would only worsen the climate crisis.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the Conservative plan to maximise North Sea oil and gas extraction presented in a clear and natural tone
General Beginner Questions
1 What exactly is the government announcing
The government is announcing a new policy to encourage and approve more oil and gas drilling projects in the UK North Sea The goal is to extract as much of the remaining resources as possible
2 Why are they doing this
They state three main reasons to boost UK energy security to protect jobs in the industry and to support the economy
3 Doesnt this go against climate change goals
This is a major point of debate The government argues its necessary for a stable transition to renewables and that UK gas has a lower production footprint than imported gas Critics say it undermines the UKs commitment to netzero emissions by 2050
4 Who is Kemi Badenoch
Kemi Badenoch is the UKs Secretary of State for Business and Trade She is a senior government minister announcing this policy on behalf of the government
Benefits Justifications
5 What are the main benefits of this plan
The claimed benefits are increased tax revenue for the UK greater energy independence continued support for around 200000 jobs linked to the industry and a supposedly greener source of gas than importing it via tankers from other countries
6 How will this lower my energy bills
The government hopes that increasing domestic supply will help to lower wholesale gas prices over the long term which could eventually lead to lower bills However its not a direct or immediate fix as prices are set by volatile international markets
7 Will this create new jobs
It aims to protect existing jobs and could create new ones in engineering construction and support services for new drilling projects and infrastructure
Problems Criticisms
8 What are the biggest arguments against this plan
Critics argue it
Harms climate goals Locks the UK into fossil fuels for decades
Is shortsighted Investment should be focused on renewables like wind and solar for a truly sustainable future
Wont lower bills The oil and gas extracted is sold at international market prices not reserved for the UK at a discount
