In his keynote speech this morning at the Conservative party conference in Birmingham, Matthew Hancock said that making the most of the UK’s shale gas reserves was a “must”.
He added that “Britain requires a more secure supply of energy” and that “in a dangerous and uncertain world” the government was acting to ensure this.
Hancock highlighted the “record investment in energy in this parliament” but admitted “there’s more to do”.
This, he told the conference, included accessing shale gas reserves, which the British Geological Survey estimated could be as high as 134.6 trillion cubic feet (tcf), as well as investing in new nuclear power.
The need to pursue greater energy security was echoed ater in the day by Chancellor George Osborne who told conference delegates: “We will tap the shale gas, commission nuclear power and renewables, and guarantee our energy future.”
Hancockalso made a nod to the affordability agenda, saying: “We must ensure that renewables we support are the best value for bill payers and taxpayers alike.”
No response to Labour’s five point energy plan was made, although Amber Rudd, parliamentary under secretary of state for climate change, hit back at the opposition’s energy efficiency policy this morning, claiming the government is already acting.