"The roots of the crisis lie in a succession of choices made between the 1980s and 2010s, when British governments eschewed concern over control and ownership of our energy supplies. Selling coal to Newcastle went from an idiom meaning a pointless action to a commercial reality as Britain privatised its strategic energy industries, decimated domestic capacity and opened up to the international market."
"The fact is that our energy politics were conceived for a world where convulsive, global events were a thing of the past. The notion that it would be difficult to access supplies of oil or liquefied natural gas from the international markets did not figure in the understanding of the politicians and officials who shaped our perilous current moment."
"Valuable North Sea gas supplies were burned up cheaply and quickly in power stations while promising state support for onshore wind turbines was discontinued, leaving Britain highly dependent on imported kit in that leading new sector."
Britain faces recurring energy crises due to policy failures spanning the 1980s to 2010s. Governments privatized strategic energy industries, depleted North Sea resources rapidly, and abandoned domestic renewable investments, creating heavy dependence on international markets. The closure of the Rough gas storage facility exemplified this neglect. Political leaders across the spectrum lacked understanding of energy sovereignty's importance. Current debates focus on North Sea drilling as a solution, with various parties criticizing Labour's energy secretary for alternative approaches. The underlying problem reflects outdated energy politics that failed to anticipate supply disruptions from global conflicts.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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