UKOOG welcomes the Conservatives’ renewed commitment to natural gas from shale
18 May 2017
UK Onshore Oil and Gas (UKOOG), the trade body for the industry, today welcomes the renewed Conservative pledge to support UK shale development, signalling its desire to make domestic energy security a priority. This comes after warnings that unless we begin developing and using our own onshore resources, in 20 years the UK will be importing over 75% of our gas, costing the equivalent of over £300 per household1.
Ken Cronin, Chief Executive of UKOOG, said:
"Domestic shale gas production has the potential to secure the UK's energy supply by reversing the increasing reliance on gas imports. By using the natural gas we have just a mile under our feet, we ensure that the British public have the means to heat and power their homes for generations. Analysis shows that the industry could also provide around 64,000 UK jobs, so it's encouraging to see that the Conservative Party is looking towards British home-grown energy for the future. The UK onshore oil and gas industry has always been committed to strong regulatory oversight and the pledge to create a combined Shale Environmental Regulator is an important step in securing and increasing public confidence in our operations."
1 Oil and Gas Authority, UKCS oil and gas production (and demand) projections https://www.ogauthority.co.uk/data-centre/data-downloads-and-publications/production-projections/; 27.1 million households in the UK
(see ONS - https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/families/bulletins/familiesandhouseholds/2016)
Contacts
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About UKOOG:
UKOOG is the representative body for the UK onshore oil and gas industry, including exploration, production and storage. The organisation's objectives are to enhance the profile of the onshore industry, promote better and more open dialogue with key stakeholders, deliver industry wide initiatives and programmes and to ensure standards in safety, the environment and operations are maintained to the highest possible level. Membership is open to all companies active in the onshore industry including those involved in the supply chain. www.ukoog.org.uk
