The chief executive of the renewable energy trade body RenewableUK has publicly urged Energy Secretary Ed Miliband to permit increased drilling in the North Sea, arguing it is essential to bolster Britain's homegrown energy supplies and reduce vulnerability to international price shocks.
Vulnerability to Global Crises
Tara Singh, who previously served as an energy adviser to the Government and oil giant Shell, stated that the ongoing crisis in the Middle East starkly demonstrates how exposed the United Kingdom remains to sudden spikes in energy costs. Writing for the Telegraph, she emphasised that producing more domestic energy of all types would make the nation "stronger, safer and less exposed."
A Pragmatic Approach to Fossil Fuels
Singh acknowledged that oil and gas will remain necessary for the foreseeable future, making it "entirely sensible" to support continued domestic production in the North Sea. "If we do not produce that gas here, we will not stop needing it. We will simply import more of it," she warned, adding that importing often carries greater economic and security risks.
Her intervention is set to infuriate Ed Miliband, who has consistently resisted pressure to expand licences for North Sea drilling. Over the weekend, the Energy Secretary reiterated his commitment to green power, stating the "one lesson" from the Iran crisis was the need to accelerate the transition to "homegrown clean power."
Mounting Pressure on Labour's Policy
Since July of last year, the Labour government has largely banned new drilling licences and expanded a windfall tax on producers to 78 percent. However, opposition to Miliband's stance is growing, with critics including Labour's union backers Unite and the GMB Union, as well as Sir Tony Blair's think tank.
Now, even the head of a renewables organisation has joined the call, urging the Energy Secretary to utilise Britain's indigenous supplies. Singh reflected on her experience during Russia's invasion of Crimea, which sent energy prices surging in the UK, stating, "I have seen that vulnerability up close."
A Balanced Energy Strategy
Singh outlined what she believes is the best course of action for the UK:
- Back domestic oil and gas, because Britain will still need gas, and importing more would often be worse.
- Be honest: the North Sea is finite, and more drilling will not deliver cheap energy.
- Keep nuclear in the mix, because it strengthens the system over time.
- Prioritise renewables, because they now offer the best route to lasting energy security.
Broader Industry and Parliamentary Concerns
Greg Jackson, the chief executive of Octopus Energy, Britain's largest gas and electricity supplier, has also urged the Government to "use what's available from the North Sea." Meanwhile, a new parliamentary report indicates that Britain is poised to miss out on approximately five billion barrels of oil and gas under Labour's ban on new drilling.
In response to rising costs, Sir Keir Starmer has announced £50 million in support for families reliant on heating oil, which has soared in price recently and is not covered by the energy price cap. Ministers are additionally developing plans for a wider bailout should prices remain elevated when the current cap expires in June.
Government's Firm Stance
A spokesman for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero maintained a firm position, stating, "Issuing new licences to explore new fields cannot give us energy security and will not take a penny off bills. The route to energy sovereignty, lower bills and thousands of good jobs is clean, homegrown power that we control."
The spokesman added that while racing towards clean power, the government is ensuring "an orderly and prosperous transition in the North Sea, supporting the management of existing oil and gas fields for the remainder of their lifespans."
