Tag Archives: fracking

UK Government is playing into Putin’s hands

From Net Zero Watch

London, 9 May – Net Zero Watch has warned that the Government’s ban on fracking and its strangling of North Sea oil and gas investment is playing into Russian hands.

The merchant bank Goldman Sachs has today warned that European gas prices could triple this winter, triggering a new energy cost crisis, even before the possibility of Russia sabotaging undersea cables and pipelines, a real threat raised by security experts last week.

Net Zero Watch has been warning for years that Britain’s energy security can only be safeguarded by developing domestic energy resources. Its director Andrew Montford said:

Putin barely needs to attack oil and gas infrastructure in the UK, because the Government is doing such a good job of restricting domestic supply without him. Net Zero policy plays straight into his hands.”

Net Zero Watch has been highlighting the fact that prioritising renewable energy over reliable energy sources represents a major threat to national security for several years.

Andrew Montford said:

The government are sacrificing everything on the altar of their Net Zero dogma: economic security and national security just don’t seem to matter to them any longer.”

Further information

* Net Zero Watch calls for emergency restart of fracking

* Government’s years of irresponsible neglect has left Britain “at mercy of Putin”

* Revitalise North Sea exploration and start fracking — or lose Putin’s energy war for good

* How UK shale gas was killed by Green lies and Russian propaganda

Net Zero Watch calls for emergency restart of fracking

From Net Zero Watch

As Russia threatens UK energy supplies, Britain needs to restart fracking now

London, 4 May – Campaigning group Net Zero Watch has warned the Government that its ban on fracking is now a direct threat to national security and has called for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to change course as a matter of urgency. 

It has been reported this week that NATO officials are extremely concerned that Russia may have mined gas pipelines and windfarm cables in the North Sea. 

According to Net Zero Watch analysis, offshore wind generates 10% of the UK’s electricity supply, a figure that is rising rapidly.

According to Net Zero Watch director, Andrew Montford:

Offshore wind generation is increasingly concentrated in a small number of huge windfarms. If someone takes out the undersea grid connections of just the ten largest, 6% of our electricity supply could be eliminated at a stroke, and nobody would know who had done it.”

In addition, 77% of the UK’s gas imports come by undersea pipeline from Norway, and are thus also at risk. With geopolitical tensions on the rise, it is clear that pipelines, undersea wires and interconnectors have become a critical vulnerability, and experts are calling for an urgent rethink.

Security expert Professor Gwythian Prins said:

In time of ‘grey war’ the only secure energy sources are ‘firm’ power sovereign assets. That means onshore gas – and coal – starting with fracked gas. National security requires fully exploiting those resources, while giving the Royal Navy and the RAF the wherewithal fully to defend firm energy assets – first and foremost oil and gas rigs and pipelines and the Norwegian gas pipeline in the North Sea.”

Further information

Government’s years of irresponsible neglect has left Britain “at mercy of Putin”

Revitalise North Sea exploration and start fracking — or lose Putin’s energy war for good

How UK shale gas was killed by Green lies and Russian propaganda