Insight: Does the UK have an energy strategy?
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Charles Hendry, UK minister of state for energy, gave a round-up on the UK government's current activities with oil and gas, speaking at a Lloyd's Register press conference on May 9.
By Karl Jeffrey, Digital Energy Journal
'We don't think the role of gas has been sufficiently clear,' said Charles Hendry, UK Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change, speaking at the Lloyd's Register press conference in London on May 9th about the UK government's perspectives towards the oil and gas industry.
'We are in the process of developing a gas generation strategy, looking at what we need to encourage new gas plant.'
'The earliest we can have a new gas plant is 2019.'
The earliest we can have a plant with carbon capture and storage is in the 2020s, the earliest we can have large scale wind is in the 2020s. But the energy pinch point is 'coming before that,' he said.
'We need to see more gas coming through but in a way which takes account of our low carbon obligation.'
In addition to gas, he spoke about the North Sea, Safety, EU Regulations, Shale gas and Carbon Capture. 'We're looking holistically,' he said in summary. 'I think this is the closest we've had to an energy policy in years.' The energy industry before 'didn't deliver the right amount of investment we needed.'
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