Offshore Oil and Gas: Venting and Flaring

Debate between Lord Whitehead and Lord Newby

Thursday 21st May 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Whitehead (Lab)]

Well, I imagine the impression has got around because people are not listening to what is actually being said about the position of sanctions as far as Putin and Russia are concerned and how that relates to third-party products, particularly jet fuel, which is a current urgent situation. As far as the overall picture is concerned, it is clearly the case that sanctions are not being relaxed against Putin’s Russia and, indeed, on the contrary, are being increased.

[Lord Newby (LD)]

Could the noble Lord follow up that answer and explain to the House in what respects sanctions are being increased?

[Lord Whitehead (Lab)]

There is a package of new sanctions which are being imposed against Russia as far as their general supplies of oil and gas and various other things on the global market are concerned. The issue I was mentioning a moment ago is one part of that, and that is the phasing in of the sanctions relating to third-party products which arise from refining, which may or may not come from Russian crude oil products.