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Shell, bp and Business Secretary questioned on fossil fuels and securing energy supplies

14 July 2022

The UK heads of bp and Shell, the CEO of Harbour Energy, climate campaigners Uplift and Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng all give evidence as the Environmental Audit Committee concludes evidence gathering on Accelerating the transition from fossil fuels and securing energy supplies.

Witnesses

Wednesday 20 July, Committee Room 15, Palace of Westminster

At 2.15pm

  • Louise Kingham CBE, Head of Country, UK, bp
  • David Bunch, UK Country Chair, Shell
  • Linda Cook, CEO, Harbour Energy
  • Tessa Khan, founder and director, Uplift

At 3.15pm

  • Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
  • Jeremy Allen, Director, Energy Portfolio Office, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
  • Tom Wheeler, Director of Regulation, North Sea Transition Authority

In the light of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine and the resulting surge in oil and gas prices, energy bills are rising for consumers, exacerbating the current cost of living crisis.

As a result, there is renewed focus on how the UK can improve its energy security and accelerate the shift away from fossil fuels. During this inquiry, the EAC has been scrutinising the Government’s Energy Security Strategy and seeking to understand how the UK can accelerate renewable and low-carbon energy and energy efficiency measures..

The first panel of Wednesday’s evidence session will include both bp and Shell’s heads of country, Harbour Energy’s Chief Executive and a climate lawyer and campaigner.

Members will be exploring the role of oil and gas companies in the UK’s net zero ambitions, what steps the companies are taking to reduce their emissions and the benefits and drawbacks of further development in the North Sea.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng and Director of Regulation for the North Sea Transition Authority Tom Wheeler will then take questions from the EAC on the Government’s policies and programmes in this area.

MPs are likely to quiz the Secretary of State on the Climate Change Committee’s recent progress Report to Parliament, whether Government policy on oil and gas development is compatible with the Paris Agreement and net zero, the reliance of technology to remove emissions and the resilience of the UK energy market.

Further information

Image: Parliament copyright