Kemi Badenoch vows to end key net zero policies and focus on extracting as much oil and gas as possible from the North Sea.
In a major policy shift, the Conservative leader will announce plans to remove environmental restrictions on fuel production. Speaking in Aberdeen, she will outline her commitment to boosting the UK’s energy independence and economic growth by tapping into North Sea resources which is similar to what Norway is doing.
Badenoch will propose scrapping the current rules guiding the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA), the regulator responsible for oil and gas licensing. She plans to replace its 12-page mandate with a single goal: “maximise the extraction of our oil and gas.” The word “transition” would also be removed from the authority’s name, reflecting a move away from the push to phase out fossil fuels.
She criticised Labour’s energy policies, accusing Ed Miliband of following an unrealistic net zero target that harms the economy. “We are in the absurd situation where our country is leaving vital resources untapped while neighbours such as Norway extract them from the same seabed,” she said.
According to Badenoch, Britain has already done more than most major economies to reduce carbon emissions since 1990, yet energy bills remain among the highest in the developed world. She argued that continuing on the current path is unsustainable.
Her new approach would remove requirements for oil platforms to use electric power and lift strict controls on practices like venting and flaring, where excess gas is burned off during extraction.
This comes as North Sea oil and gas production continues to fall, with the Office for National Statistics highlighting the decline as a drag on economic growth. Gas imports have risen 19% this year, while domestic output is down 20% compared to before the pandemic.
Offshore Energy UK, the industry group, has warned that up to 1,000 jobs could be lost each month without new investment in fossil fuel projects.
Badenoch also pointed to global instability such as Russia’s war in Ukraine as proof that energy security must become a top national priority.
The government’s current policy, backed by Ed Miliband, is to stop issuing new oil and gas licences, invest in offshore wind, and develop expensive carbon capture technology to meet the 2050 net zero target. However, critics question whether this strategy can lower energy bills or secure reliable energy supplies.
A spokesperson for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero defended the existing plans, saying the UK is already making a fair and balanced transition, with major investments in clean energy and green jobs.
