A NORTH Sea oil and gas company has criticised the shadow climate and net-zero secretary after he reinforced Labour’s opposition to new drilling.
Orcadian Energy said that if Ed Miliband “really did care about total global emissions” he would back the UK’s offshore industry.
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The company also questioned if the former Labour leader was just giving a “virtue signal” about how green he is.
Mr Miliband said yesterday that Labour opposed fresh North Sea exploration licensing.
He stated: “The truth is that wherever we get our gas from, we pay the same price because the price is set on the European market. So this will make no difference to bills.
“Secondly, it will take years to come onstream. It is not cheap and it is not quick either.
“Thirdly, it drives the coach and horses through all the commitments we’re making on climate change. If all the countries followed our lead, we would end up with three degrees or more of global warming. Precisely the danger that we are seeking to avoid.”
Mr Miliband added that the “way to cut bills” and ensure energy security was through “onshore wind, offshore wind and solar”.
But Energy Voice reports that Orcadian Energy later hit back In a series of Tweets.
The firm said: “I’d like to explain to Ed Miliband how developing new oil and gas fields in the UKCS, where we can produce oil with much-reduced emissions, actually reduces global emissions.
“Oil fields decline and emissions intensity rises inexorably. To minimise emissions, we need new fields.
“The first question I would ask Ed Miliband is whether he wants to reduce global emissions or just virtue signal about how green he is? I’d want an honest answer from him, but if he really did care about total global emissions he should be backing the UK’s oil and gas companies.
“Or shall we just get all the oil we need from Venezuela? Outsourcing and multiplying emissions sounds like a great strategy.”
Energy Voice says Orcadian is behind the 80million barrel Pilot project and is currently on the lookout for partners to help progress the scheme.
Pilot will be integrated with renewables in order to keep emissions to a minimum.
