Calls for ‘reasoned debate’ over UK oil and gas future

Posted: December 20, 2021 by oldbrew in climate, Energy, government, net zero
Tags: , ,

North Sea oil platform [image credit: matchtech.com]


Getting a reasoned debate out of ‘net-zero’ obsessed political leaders is going to be a tall order, when their entire energy policy is based on extreme climate dogma and decrees of what they intend to do, having taken the ‘advice’ (orders?) of the Climate Change Committee. Asking for energy plans that make sense seems unlikely to strike a chord with those in power.
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Business leaders have written a joint open letter to party leaders calling for a “reasoned debate” over the future of oil and gas in the UK, reports BBC News.

The call comes after plans for the controversial Cambo Oil field off Shetland were put on hold.

The letter says any statements calling for an end to new exploration have shaken investor confidence, placing tens of thousands of jobs at risk.

It warns politicians against creating a “hostile investment environment”.

The letter, from Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, supported by The British Chambers of Commerce and Scottish Chambers of Commerce, has also been signed by 58 leading figures from business and civic life in Aberdeen.

It says the economic wellbeing of whole communities across the UK is also being put at risk.

The letter adds that the statements calling for an end to new exploration “threaten the very basis of a fair and inclusive transition at the most crucial point in our collective journey to a net-zero society”.

“A transition, by definition, is a change of state over time,” it says. “This is one of the most complex challenges we have faced in our history and it doesn’t lend itself to a simple, ‘Who’s good, who’s bad? Who’s green, who’s not?’ approach. To characterise it in this way is overly simplistic.

“We must now pause and allow for a reasoned debate about our energy future to take place. At the same time, we urge politicians to reflect carefully on their public statements on oil and gas and the impact they have on investment in the industry.

“We must not create an adverse policy environment at this crucial moment in our energy transition journey.”

The letter adds that by 2050, the International Energy Agency projects that global oil and gas demand will fall by 80%, but 20 million barrels per day will still be needed.

“Therefore, there is no current future scenario where there is not a requirement for some oil and gas,” it says. “Meantime, it continues to be required for people to travel, heat and power their homes and for the manufacture of many everyday goods.”

“This leaves us with two options; to produce this domestically, with full control over the regulatory environment in which it is extracted; or to import an increasing amount of our energy, with the heavier carbon toll that shipping it from other parts of the world carries. The latter makes little economic sense, and even less environmental sense.”

Full report here.

Comments
  1. Philip Mulholland says:

    Oil and Natural Gas are a feed stock for the petrochemical industry. -The name is a hint.

  2. […] Calls for ‘reasoned debate’ over UK oil and gas future […]

  3. Saighdear says:

    “reasoned debate” eh ? well, for all my years listening to Parents, Teetscherz, Lecturers, would-be lectschurers, Jason Leitch ( this now ), politicians and trying to figure out the effectual difference between Know-it-alls, and Know-alls, amongst Customers, etc, when you’re trying to progress in Life, I am as well to listen to my Stirks – Plain and simple – “I want being fed”. THe rest….? well, speaking to European Colleagues, this is what they referred to as the British Disease – Talk talk talk.
    Yes indeed, not only have the last say, but have to say something… What was the Chinese proverb about saying something ?

  4. cognog2 says:

    Unfortunately this will fall upon deaf ears. The political and mindset situation generated by that ghastly MEME OF CAGW which has gone viral will see to that.

  5. stpaulchuck says:

    “reasoned debate” Yeah.. Lots of luck with that. CAGW is a religious movement, not a science or economic based movement.

  6. Coeur de Lion says:

    The solution is ridicule

  7. oldbrew says:

    ‘The letter adds that by 2050, the International Energy Agency projects that global oil and gas demand will fall by 80%”

    As world population will have risen a lot by then their ideas look silly.

  8. oldbrew says:

    Even gas can be weather dependent, in terms of pricing. Colder = more demand = higher prices.

    Gas Markets Could See Sudden Bout Of Volatility
    Dec 20, 2021

    Weather forecasts are among the biggest factors driving natural gas prices, especially during the winter when heating demand is at its peak. At the same time, weather forecasts are notoriously unreliable beyond a certain point. As a result, natural gas prices have seen some sharp movements in the last few days and are likely to see extra volatility in the runup to the holidays.

    https://oilprice.com/Energy/Gas-Prices/Gas-Markets-Could-See-Sudden-Bout-Of-Volatility.html
    – – –
    Wind+solar = 3% of UK electricity supply at the moment.
    Coal from the very few remaining sites = 4.8%, gas = 58.8%.

    So coal+gas producing 21 times more than wind+solar.

  9. Paul Vaughan says:

    “As world population will have risen a lot by then their ideas look silly.”

    If there were 5% as many people we wouldn’t have to tolerate all of this extreme financial and psychological abuse from all these bully-rich-elite BOTH left AND right.