A new round of oil and gas drilling in the UK is “entirely compatible” with Britain’s net zero targets, energy minister Graham Stuart told The National on Tuesday.
Mr Stuart – who also backed the UAE’s presidency of Cop28 to “build consensus” on the switch to renewable energy at the summit in Dubai – said it would make “no environmental sense” to import fossil fuels from abroad instead of producing them domestically.
Britain expects to use some North Sea fossil fuels even beyond its net zero target date of 2050. It hopes to mitigate the effects with emerging technology such as carbon capture.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak this summer announced a push to “max out” the UK’s undersea reserves by granting hundreds of new licences, defying criticism from activist groups such as Just Stop Oil.
Mr Stuart said the government “firmly believes that UK oil and gas production is part of the solution not the problem”.
An offshore industry summit in Aberdeen, Scotland, was told on Tuesday that oil and gas would remain “a large part of the supply” for decades on world markets.
Summit president Kamel Ben Naceur, a former chief economist of the UAE’s Adnoc, said it would be “very ill advised” to cut funding for new oil and gas exploration.
The recent announcement by Mr Sunak was “a major step to ensure security of supply in the coming years,” he said.
Ministers are relying on findings by the North Sea Transition Authority that Britain’s offshore gas is almost four times cleaner than liquefied natural gas imports from overseas.
Mr Stuart – a minister of state in the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero – described the new licences as a way of managing Britain’s “fast-declining” oil and gas production.
Asked by The National whether the role envisaged for oil and gas would disappoint Britain’s partners at Cop28, he said it was “entirely compatible” with the drive for net zero.
“Managing that with new licences is not going to lead to increased production. it’s still going to decline, we will remain a net importer,” he said.
“Not maximising production here against ever higher environmental standards, while importing from abroad with much higher emissions attached, makes no environmental sense.”
Figures released on Tuesday by the North Sea authority said emissions from the sector fell for a third consecutive year thanks to fuel efficiency measures and cuts in wasteful gas flaring.
It said emissions decreased on 78 per cent of offshore platforms between 2018 and 2022. However, it said “bold measures” would be needed to halve greenhouse gas output by 2030.
The authority’s director of strategy Hedvig Ljungerud said the industry “can’t hide from the fact that there is more work to do”.
Britain is looking to offshore wind turbines as a major source of clean electricity. Ministers are also expected to relax rules around onshore wind amid a rebellion among Mr Sunak’s MPs.
Mr Stuart declined to say whether the UK would support a global renewable energy target, as proposed by Germany, when Cop28 negotiations begin in Dubai.
But he said Britain was “very keen to see stretching targets on renewables” and supported efforts in the area by Dr Sultan Al Jaber, the summit’s president-designate and UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology.
“We support those including Dr Sultan Al Jaber at examining that and looking to build consensus to get behind it,” said Mr Stuart, who said he would continue to “work closely” with the president-designate.
Dr Al Jaber has made fast-tracking the energy transition one of four priorities for Cop28, where he says his “north star” will be keeping the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C within reach. Mr Stuart said Britain “supports him entirely in that endeavour”.
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tell-tale signs of burnout
- loss of confidence and appetite
- irritability and emotional outbursts
- sadness
- persistent physical ailments such as headaches, frequent infections and fatigue
- substance abuse, such as smoking or drinking more
- impaired judgement
- excessive and continuous worrying
- irregular sleep patterns
Tips to help overcome burnout
Acknowledge how you are feeling by listening to your warning signs. Set boundaries and learn to say ‘no’
Do activities that you want to do as well as things you have to do
Undertake at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. It releases an abundance of feel-good hormones
Find your form of relaxation and make time for it each day e.g. soothing music, reading or mindful meditation
Sleep and wake at the same time every day, even if your sleep pattern was disrupted. Without enough sleep condition such as stress, anxiety and depression can thrive.
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Maestro
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
ANDROID%20VERSION%20NAMES%2C%20IN%20ORDER
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The%C2%A0specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dual%20synchronous%20electric%20motors%20%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E646hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E830Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETwo-speed%20auto%20(rear%20axle)%3B%20single-speed%20auto%20(front)%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh552%2C311%3B%20Dh660%2C408%20(as%20tested)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
No Shame
Lily Allen
(Parlophone)
BACK%20TO%20ALEXANDRIA
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETamer%20Ruggli%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENadine%20Labaki%2C%20Fanny%20Ardant%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
Racecard
6pm: The Pointe - Conditions (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m
6.35pm: Palm West Beach - Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (T) 1,800m
7.10pm: The View at the Palm - Handicap (TB) Dh85,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.45pm: Nakeel Graduate Stakes - Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m
8.20pm: Club Vista Mare - Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,900m
8.55pm: The Palm Fountain - Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,200m
9.30pm: The Palm Tower - Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,600m
UAE%20ILT20
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: N2 Technology
Founded: 2018
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Startups
Size: 14
Funding: $1.7m from HNIs
