The United Kingdom announced that it will grant hundreds of oil and gas exploitation licenses
For the British prime minister, Rishi Sunak, it does not make sense to invest in bringing gas and oil from abroad if he can produce it in his own territory.
The United Kingdom will grant hundreds of new oil and gas exploitation licences, mainly in the North Sea, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced Monday.
“Now, more than ever, it is vital that we strengthen our energy security and use this independence to deliver more affordable and cleaner energy to British homes and businesses,” Sunak said in a statement.
When the UK reaches its goal of carbon neutrality in 2050, a quarter of its energy needs will still come from oil and gas, he added.
Sunak also evoked the need to "reduce dependence on hostile States", in an allusion to the manipulation of energy by Russian President Vladimir Putin. For Sunak, it does not make sense to invest in bringing gas and oil from abroad if he can produce it in his own territory.
The prime minister had earlier promised to take "pragmatic and proportionate" action against global warming. To reduce pollution, Sunak had announced a £20bn investment in carbon capture and storage.
