Carbon capture plan 'being driven by oil and gas firms'

Energy secretary Ed Miliband only consulted fossil fuel companies, including oil giants BP, Eni and Equinor, between the general election and the government’s announcement to pump almost 22bn into controversial carbon capture and storage programmes, documents show.

- HOWARD MUSTOE

The details of meetings released to The Independent under freedom of information rules show that Mr Miliband only met with broader industry members like academics and clean energy advocates after the 4 October commitment, sparking criticism the policy surrounding the contentious technology was being driven by oil and gas firms.

Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer said that while there was a role for carbon capture in getting to net zero, she warned against it being used “as a fig leaf to continue burning fossil fuels”.

“My concern with the number of these meetings that have been with fossil fuel companies is that the government is listening to lobbyists who are telling them that they should be allowed to continue burning gas with carbon capture and storage attached,” she said.

A government spokesperson said ministers had a duty to meet with a range of stakeholders and have held meetings with representatives from right across the energy industry since July.

“Carbon capture, usage and storage is vital for decarbonisation while boosting our energy independence, and the Climate Change Committee describes it as a necessity not an option for reaching our climate goals,” the spokesperson said. “The £21.7bn announced last year represents a major success story for British industry and will support thousands of jobs, deliver clean power, and accelerate the UK towards net zero.”

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology aims to take carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas linked to climate change, and pump it below the ground, trapping it and neutralising its effect on the atmosphere. To work, the gas must be trapped there indefinitely. If it leaks, or isn’t captured in the first place, its effect is neutered.