Offshore Gas Rigs

Baroness Altmann Excerpts

Thursday 11th March 2021 Lords Chamber

[Lord Callanan (Con)]

I have set out that, where it continues for operational reasons, we want to reduce it as much as possible, and we are committed to the World Bank initiative to eliminate it completely by 2030.

[Baroness Altmann (Con)]

My Lords, with UK oil rigs being the most polluting in Europe and North Sea oil producing 21 kilograms of CO₂ per barrel, compared with 8 kilograms for Norway, could my noble friend tell the House what further measures the Government might consider introducing to ensure that oil companies phase out this flaring much faster than planned—and well before 2030?

[Lord Callanan (Con)]

Transforming the UK continental shelf into a net zero basin will be achieved through a combination of energy efficiency, electrification from alternative, decarbonised energy, and the use of carbon-capture technology. There are a range of policies that we can bring into play to try and bring these practices to an end.