Former energy ministers push for change in North Sea policy

A group of former UK energy ministers has voiced “deep concern” over the decline of UK oil and gas production.

The former ministers, which include Amber Rudd and Lord John Hutton, have argued that the current Government’s policy is worsening energy security but having little impact on the push to cut global carbon emissions.

“The premature curtailment of domestic production is not primarily the result of geology but of policy decisions made by both Labour and Conservative governments,” they said in a letter to the Prime Minister.

 “Energy security is national security. Without urgent reform we will become increasingly reliant on imported liquefied natural gas.”

The ex-ministers, some of whom have links to the oil and gas industry, have called to relax the ban on new exploration licences and for an early end to the windfall tax.

The Government argues the North Sea basin is seeing a natural decline and they are focused on a shits towards offshore wind and carbon capture technologies.