Given the volatile, to say the least, situation in Iran, the Middle East, DESNZ has issued a fact sheet to dispel some erroneous reporting and answer public questions.

First it addresses the UK’s gas supply, saying that it will not be disrupted. While the UK does import some liquified natural gas (LNG) from the Gulf, North Sea production, pipelines with Norway, interconnectors with continental Europe and three LNG terminals should provide a consistent supply.

The release notes that only one per cent of the UK’s gas supply in 2025 came from Qatar.

As reported before, energy bills are likely to be capped in all cases, and the current energy price cap will provide protection for households until the start of July, regardless of developments in the Middle East. It should, however, be noted that the cap is funded through tax, so taxes may well rise even if direct bills do not.

Now the release does a little ‘gaslighting’ if one can use the pun; it focuses on oil and gas being determined by international markets, not the UK. Which is clearly true.

“Future exploration in the North Sea is too marginal to make a difference to the overall supply in an international market.”

Which is also true, but misses the point, as Greg Jackson of Octopus has noted before. It may not affect the market, but it will create significant revenue whilst not making an iota of difference to consumption – which is the only thing that matters to the planet.

So yes, “new licences to explore new fields wouldn’t make any difference to the prices set by international markets and paid by UK billpayers” is true, but not true of taxpayers or revenue to invest in renewables.

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