London, 14 December 2020 – Following today's release of the Energy White Paper, UKPIA calls for a strong commitment from government to work with industry to develop energy policies that support economic recovery from the impacts of COVID-19 while laying the important foundations for a just transition to Net-Zero.
It is encouraging to see that the downstream oil sector is referenced in the Paper as continuing to play a vital role in the transition to the net zero economy. UKPIA and its members will continue to work with government to develop the policies needed to stimulate investment in the sector to support jobs now and in the long term and ensuring secure fuel supplies during the energy transition.
UKPIA’s members are already playing a significant role in achieving societal targets for decarbonisation with increased biofuel blends in petrol and diesel fuel and a widespread roll out of chargers for EVs, as well as embarking on projects to decarbonise industrial sites through the application of carbon capture and hydrogen technologies.
In October, UKPIA launched its report titled “Transition, Transformation, and Innovation: Our role in the Net-Zero Challenge” which looked at credible scenarios and an illustrative pathway for the UK downstream sector to achieve Net-Zero, which was also referenced in today’s Energy White Paper.
Quotes Attributed to UKPIA Director-General, Stephen Marcos Jones.
“UKPIA has called for a collaborative approach to policy development that we hope today’s Energy White Paper will bring. It is absolutely vital - as a vaccine is rolled out and the UK can begin its recovery from COVID-19 - that industry and the UK Government work together to put in place the energy policies we need to stimulate investment for the recovery now and to meet long term targets.
UKPIA and our members know that a range of technologies will be needed into the 2030s and beyond, and we will keep working with government on policies that allow the industry to decarbonise and importantly make the UK a global leader in Net-Zero technologies, such as CCUS and hydrogen.”
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Notes to Editors:
• The UK Petroleum Industry Association (UKPIA) represents eight oil refining and marketing companies that operate the six major oil refineries in the UK and source over 85% of the transport fuels used. UKPIA members also own around 1,250 of the UK's 8385 filling stations in the UK.
• The Transition, Transformation, and Innovation: Our role in the Net-Zero Challenge report is available here or in hard copy on request from the UKPIA Press Office. This report outlines our Vision towards reaching Net-Zero in the UK. This is referenced in the Energy White Paper at reference number 203 in the References Section.
• Energy White Paper quote is from Downstream Oil Resilience Section, page 146.