Energy crisis - live: Liz Truss issues hundreds of new oil and gas licences despite climate change
It comes as National Grid warns UK faces power cuts this winter
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The prime minister has confirmed she is launching new North Sea oil and gas licensing to drive home-grown energy in the UK and tackle the winter crisis.
In a series of tweets posted today, Liz Truss said: “To secure our long-term energy supply and reduce reliance on authoritarian regimes, we’re accelerating our domestic energy production, including launching a new North Sea oil and gas licensing round.
“We’re also speeding up deployment of renewables including hydrogen, solar and wind.”
This morning, the climate minister said the government will not tell people to reduce energy usage because it is “not a nanny-state” but will not rule out rationing.
It comes as British households face rolling three-hour long blackouts if gas imports fall short of demand this winter, National Grid has warned.
Russia’s war has created “unprecedented turmoil and volatility” in energy markets, the company said on Thursday, adding that pre-planned power cuts may be necessary to give power plants priority.
Liz Truss blocks energy saving campaign ‘on ideological grounds’
Liz Truss has blocked plans for a public information campaign asking people to save energy over the winter, reportedly because she is “ideologically opposed” to the idea.
Ministers on Friday morning claimed the idea was “nanny state” and confirmed that they would not be urging people to keep an eye on their usage despite warnings from National Grid of possibly rolling blackouts.
Business secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg is said to have been keen on a £15 million campaign as a relatively cost-effective way of reducing the UK’s energy usage at a time of surging prices and scarcity.
Our policy correspondent Jon Stone has more:
Liz Truss blocks energy saving campaign ‘on ideological grounds’
Minister says government views public information campaign as ‘nanny state’
‘Everyone stands to lose’ if Europe does not tackle rise in energy prices- Taoiseach
The Taoiseach has said “everyone stands to lose” if Europe does not tackle the “exponential” rise in energy prices.
Micheal Martin said European countries need to adopt a Covid-style approach to address the energy crisis.
The Fianna Fail leader added there is no “magical” answer to the problem.
Speaking in Prague, Mr Martin said: “Unity is again important, similar to what happened with Covid-19. The European Commission [and] the European Union came together and had a co-ordinated set of policies for public health and vaccination.
“Likewise in this crisis, efforts are continuing to be made to see if we can get a European-wide response to the energy crisis issue.
“It’s not simple. Different member states are coming to this from different positions.
“We all want to arrive at the same destination: to try and limit the exponential growth in prices but also making sure security of supply.”
Mr Martin was attending a summit of EU leaders in Prague on Friday.
Asked about the measures introduced by Germany, Mr Martin said there is a general view that there should be “more co-operative or collective approach and every member state including Germany were on for that”.
Ed Miliband says public information campaign is ‘entirely sensible'
On the government’s refusal to produce an energy-saving public information campaign, Ed Miliband said: “It is entirely sensible to give the public factual information about how they can save money on energy bills.
The Labour shadow climate change secretary said: “Blocking it because of ideological dogma is another failure piled on 12 years of Tory failed energy policy for which the British people are paying the price.”
CEO of energy company criticises climate minister
The climate minister’s comments that the government will not tell the public to reduce their energy usage are “highly irresponsible and hazardous”.
“If our own climate minister can’t see the importance of helping homes to cut energy wastage - a move that would speed up the country’s journey towards net-zero by two years - we are doomed,” CEO of Utilita Energy, Bill Bullen, said
The government has also drawn criticism for beginning a licensing round for new oil and gas exploration in the North Sea.
But the prime minister argued increasing UK production across fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables is needed to avoid future energy crises.
Prime minister issues hundreds of new oil and gas licenses
Prime Minister Liz Truss said tackling the energy crisis required increased production in the UK as she attempted to reassure the public the country “will get through this winter”.
In a string of tweets on Friday, she said: “We have taken decisive action to support households and businesses with their energy costs - and we’re working to make sure the United Kingdom is never in this position again by tackling the root cause of the energy crisis.
“That means producing more energy here at home.
“To secure our long-term energy supply and reduce reliance on authoritarian regimes, we’re accelerating our domestic energy production, including launching a new North Sea oil and gas licensing round.
“We’re also speeding up deployment of renewables including hydrogen, solar and wind.
“Yesterday I held discussions with our allies on progressing Sizewell C and building more nuclear power stations.
“We’re also working to get better prices for people now - our energy supply taskforce is negotiating new long-term agreements with gas suppliers.
“Together, we will get through this winter, grow our economy and secure our energy independence for the future.”
Winter fuel payment 2022: When is the £400 cost of living payment due?
The British government announced earlier this year that households will have £400 knocked off their energy bills this winter as part of the effort to tackle soaring bills as the cost of living crisis bites.
The policy was announced by former chancellor Rishi Sunak along with other measures including a £650 one-off payment for around eight million households on means-tested benefits; a £300 one-off payment to over eight million pensioner households to be paid alongside their winter fuel payment; and a £150 one-off payment for around six million people across the UK who receive certain disability benefits.
As a Tory leadership candidate vying to succeed Boris Johnson this summer, Mr Sunak promised further handouts but he was ultimately beaten by Liz Truss, who moved quickly as prime minister to freeze Ofgem’s cap at £2,500 for two years but has yet to promise any further direct payments to citizens.
Who gets the £400 energy rebate and winter fuel payment?
Households will start receiving money off their energy bills from October
Tory climate minister refuses to rule out winter blackouts amid energy crisis
Climate minister Graham Stuart today refused to rule out power cuts during winter, but said the government will not be releasing an energy-saving public information campaign.
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said on Friday that the European Commission will present proposals on energy ahead of the next meeting of EU leaders on Oct. 20-21.
“The Commission will present to the EU Council a proposal in which the three elements will be present: reduce prices, have an element of solidarity in the mechanism and the start of electricity market reform,” Draghi said upon leaving a summit of EU leaders in Prague.
Liz Truss blocks energy saving campaign ‘on ideological grounds’
Liz Truss has blocked plans for a public information campaign asking people to save energy over the winter, reportedly because she is “ideologically opposed” to the idea.
Ministers on Friday morning claimed the idea was “nanny state” and confirmed that they would not be urging people to keep an eye on their usage despite warnings from National Grid of possibly rolling blackouts.
Business secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg is said to have been keen on a £15 million campaign as a relatively cost-effective way of reducing the UK’s energy usage at a time of surging prices and scarcity.
Our policy correspondent, Jon Stone, has more:
Liz Truss blocks energy saving campaign ‘on ideological grounds’
Minister says government views public information campaign as ‘nanny state’
Thank you for following our coverage of the energy crisis, we will now be closing our blog. Stay updated on the latest news here
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