The UK announced today it will grant a hundred new licenses for the exploration of oil and gas fields in the North Sea, confirming that the Conservative government led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak continues to rely on fossil fuels as part of its energy strategy. Sunak said the approval of the new licenses “strengthens” energy security and creates jobs, as well as creating space for carbon capture utilization and storage (CCU) projects. “Now more than ever, it is vital we strengthen our energy security and capitalize on that independence to deliver cheaper and cleaner energy to British homes and businesses,” the prime minister said in a statement. The news comes as the government has been facing criticism over its commitment to green initiatives for several days.
Although Sunak, interviewed by the “BBC” television station during his visit to Aberdeenshire, denied that the granting of new oil and gas licenses in the North Sea was done in an attempt to win votes, he also suggested that the His government is willing to withdraw, delay and even abandon climate policies that could cost consumers. And it is precisely on climate policies that Sunak is trying to play the electoral campaign for the next general elections. The prime minister is aware that, with the vote looming and a disadvantage in the polls, he needs to strategize and create a clear line between his party and Labour’s. Indeed, the decision to grant new licenses for the North Sea puts the Conservative Party in direct opposition to the Labor Party on climate policies. Led by leader Keir Starmer, Labor has pledged to ban new oil exploration in the North Sea if it wins the elections. Starmer said his party wants simpler planning rules for onshore and offshore wind farms and is calling for a new body called Great British Energy to be set up, as well as £2.5bn (£2.9bn) of investment. euro) in the production of renewable energies.
Sunak criticized the labor stance, warning it could lead to “weakness and dependence” for the benefit of “dictators and autocrats”. Specifying that the new drilling licenses in the North Sea are “consistent” with the country’s climate goals, Sunak said: “Completely in line with the transition to net-zero, we are using the energy we have here at home because we will need it for decades. Even when we reach our net-zero emissions target in 2050, a quarter of our energy needs will still come from oil and gas,” the prime minister said, adding that for the UK, “it’s cheaper and more sustainable to supply energy than to import it.” . Shadow climate change minister Ed Miliband accused Sunak of dragging the country into “a culture war on the climate” to compensate for “13 years of failed Tory energy policy”. In addition to criticism from the opposition, the government’s plans have also been dealt a blow by some Conservative MPs; such as former Tory energy secretary Chris Skidmore, who said the plan was “the wrong decision at just the wrong time”, and that he will call for an urgent debate as soon as MPs return from the summer break. In response, the prime minister said: “We have all witnessed Putin manipulating and weaponizing energy, cutting off supplies and stunting growth in countries around the world. Now more than ever, it is crucial that we strengthen our energy security and capitalize on that independence. This is a decision for the UK in general. It’s not about political seats, it’s just about doing the right thing for the country.”
This article is originally published on agenzianova.com
