The US President’s comments come amid rising gas prices and rising tensions over the UK’s net-zero transition.
US President Donald Trump has urged Britain to reverse its shift to wind energy and instead to maximize the potential of the vast North Sea oil reserves.
He argued that it would reduce energy costs and restore energy security to British citizens.
Trump has specifically called for “modernized drilling in the North Sea.” He says he is “waiting for a large amount of oil to be taken,” and is able to support drilling “for a century,” with Aberdeen working as a major operational hub.
Trump has long argued that wind turbines are not only unreliable and costly, but also harmful to the landscape and the economy.
“Open the North Sea”
This is not Trump’s first call for Britain to “open the North Sea” away from wind energy.
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The North Sea, some of Europe’s richest fossil fuel resources, remains a key strategic asset.
Scotland is Europe’s largest oil producer and the second largest gas producer. However, under the policy of the labour government, new oil, gas or coal licenses will not be issued as part of the UK’s willingness to net zero emissions.
“Science reveals that the world needs to take urgent action and that the current plan for global oil and gas production is not compatible with limiting global warming to 1.5°C,” the government said.
Reaction from the UK
Trump’s comments found support from MSP Douglas Lambsden, a conservative Scottish figure who represents Scotland’s northeastern part of the country.
Lumsden’s remarks show growing concern across the UK that the government’s net zero push is being implemented without a practical plan to protect workers and maintain energy security.
Despite increasing criticism, Prime Minister Kiel doubled his commitment to the UK’s Green Energy Agenda.
He emphasized that the UK is no longer pleased to be exposed to the volatility of the international fossil fuel market, and that half of the UK’s recession since the 1970s was caused by the fossil fuel shock.
Energy Secretary Edel Miliband supported the government’s “hard” approach to the role of low-carbon output as a route to energy security.
Meanwhile, according to the International Energy Agency, oil and gas will remain an important part of the global energy mix for the next few years.
Industry workforce
Critics note that the labour government has failed to provide a reliable plan to maintain energy stability during the transition.
The UK oil and gas industry is warning about growing unemployment and the coming escape of skills.
“We’re at a turning point. The risk is that these highly mobile, highly paid oil and gas workers go abroad,” she warned, noting that the renewable job creation rate doesn’t correspond to job losses on fossil fuels.
Energy Minister Michael Shanks admitted that the transition was poorly managed and vowed not to repeat past mistakes.
