Can the UK take its foot off the gas?
While the government might complain about the vicissitudes of the international gas market, the UK's transition away from the fuel is fraught with challenges
UK energy secretary Ed Miliband often decries the fact that the country’s dependence on imported oil and gas has left it in the grip of “dictators and petrostates”. It is true the country has learned a hard lesson about the dynamics of the global gas market in the recent energy crisis. The dominant narrative from the UK government and energy regulator Ofgem is that the only way to improve the UK’s energy security is to accelerate the energy transition. 36.5% – Gas’ share of UK inland energy consumption in 2023 Ofgem CEO Jonathan Brearley recently stated that “our reliance on international gas markets leads to volatile wholesale prices and continues to drive up bills, which is why it

Also in this section
17 July 2025
US downstream sector in key state feels the pain of high costs, an environmental squeeze and the effects of broader market trends
16 July 2025
Crude quality issues are an often understated risk to energy security, highlighted by problems at a key US refinery
15 July 2025
Government consultations on the windfall tax and the exploration licence ban are positive steps, but it is unclear how long it will take for them to yield tangible outcomes
15 July 2025
A brutally honest picture about the potential role of oil and gas in 2050 should prompt policymakers to not only reflect but also change course to meet vital energy needs