Scotland renews calls for £15m coal levies cash

A cash pot worth £15 million collected by the UK Government from the Scottish coal industry should be reinvested to restore opencast sites in Scotland, Energy Minister Fergus Ewing (pictured) has said. The Scottish Government claims Westminster is “ignoring” calls to help coalfields in Scotland and believes the cash should be put to “good use”.” […]

Fallon hints at Budget relief for manufacturing energy costs

Business and Energy Minister Michael Fallon has given a strong hint there will be action to help manufacturers with energy costs. Speaking yesterday at the International Utility Conference, Mr Fallon admitted the risk to jobs is “very real”. Energy intensive industries have already been given a package of measures to lessen the burden of UK […]

Could Ukraine gas crisis shatter UK ceramics?

Potteries, brick bakers, big ceramic-making kilns – all rely on steady, continuous high temperatures of at least 1000°C. This is fuelled by large quantities of natural gas. That’s one pressing reason for the British Ceramic Confederation’s (BCC) growing concern over fractious relations between Russia and Ukraine. Roughly a third of Europe’s gas comes from Russia […]

Where’s the Big Yellow storage for gas when you need it?

I have to admit – however reluctantly – that I’m a bit of a hoarder. My other half will crow with delight when he reads my blog today because I furiously deny this is the case 99% of the time. Though I really do hate clutter, it’s often harder to chuck away non-essentials than you […]

Boost for marine engineering in Solent

A new research project to attract investment in the Solent’s marine and maritime engineering sectors has been launched. Energy Minister Michael Fallon, who was appointed Minister for Portsmouth last month, made the announcement following plans to close the city’s shipbuilding yard, which is expected to lead to 940 job losses. The University of Southampton will […]

DECC opens new round for North Sea oil licences

A fresh spate of oil and gas activity in the UK is on the horizon as the 28th round for businesses to apply for licences to drill in the North Sea has opened. The UK oil and gas sector already supports around 350,000 jobs and attracted “a record” £14 billion last year. The Government expects […]

Speed up new gas plant at Coryton, minister begged

Plans for a new gas power station in Essex are being held back because investors won’t cough up until the project bags government subsidy. The dilemma was revealed by local MP Stephen Metcalfe yesterday in the House of Commons when he asked Energy Minister Michael Fallon to help avoid “unnecessary delay”. He said energy firm Intergen […]

Michael Fallon appointed Minister for Portsmouth

Michael Fallon, who currently holds ministerial posts in both the business and energy departments, has been appointed Minister for Portsmouth. The newly-created role is designed to help the city in the aftermath of the loss of hundreds of jobs in the shipbuilding industry. Last year defence giant BAE Systems announced it would move Navy shipbuilding […]

Aluminium makers slam UK energy taxes

Aluminium makers urged the Government to trim “punitive” energy taxes yesterday at a meeting with Business and Energy Minister Michael Fallon. The Aluminium Federation (ALFED) is concerned UK firms are increasingly uncompetitive compared with Chinese, Indian and other European businesses. They presented the minister with a study suggesting EU legislation has left European firms paying […]

UK looks into skills needed for shale gas sector

A study to find out what skills the UK shale gas industry will need in the coming years was launched by a trade group today. The UK Onshore Operators Group (UKOOG) is partnering with consultancy giant EY to also assess the supply chain and look into the materials and equipment needed to build and operate […]