Fuels Industry UK urges further action by Government to support the UK Fuels Industry
Fuels Industry UK urges further action by Government to support the UK Fuels Industry
London 23 June 2025 – Fuels Industry UK has cautioned that the measures announced in the Industrial Strategy do not go far enough in addressing the challenges facing the fuels sector despite targeted measures to reduce industrial energy costs and strengthen England’s technical skills base.
The UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy announces plans to narrow the energy cost gap between UK industry and EU competitors as well as a group of new measures to address skills shortages in England. New Sector Plans also announce policy measures supporting carbon capture, hydrogen, and Sustainable Aviation Fuels, where the fuels sector will be essential for their future delivery.
Elizabeth de Jong, Chief Executive of Fuels Industry UK said “Fuels Industry UK identified both energy costs and skills gaps as barriers to investment and we will work with our members and government to ensure the sector can maximise and build on today’s announcements. The Supercharger scheme, for example, only helps those refineries with particular power generation setups.
“Although there has been acknowledgment by government of the importance of the fuels sector in the context of the Grangemouth refinery closure, we are disappointed not to be named explicitly as a ‘foundational industry’ today, given the vital role of the fuels sector in enabling growth and providing over 40% of total final energy consumption.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
- Fuels Industry UK represents seven oil refining and marketing companies that operate the major oil refineries in the UK and source over 90% of the transport fuels used. Fuels Industry UK members also own around 1,250 of the UK's 8,000+ filling stations. Fuels Industry UK’s associate members are made up of a wide range of companies - from heating fuel supply and LNG imports, renewable and sustainable fuel producers, to terminals and pipelines - all providing a range of essential services across the industry.
- UK Government published its Green Paper, Invest 2035: the UK's modern industrial strategy for consultation in Autumn 2024. The UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy was published 23rd June 2025.
- Fuels Industry UK’s full input to the Green Paper consultation can be found here.
- “40% of final energy consumption” is taken from Energy Consumption UK publication from DESNZ, Table C1, which shows petroleum products accounted for 56.6MT of 125.0MT total consumption of energy in 2023.
Contact:
Jamie Baker, Director of External Relations, 0207 269 7605