Government to assess refining and fuel import sectors

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) claims that the UK is currently well supplied by both domestically refined and imported oil products.

It notes, however, that the market is likely to change dramatically as the country moves towards a low carbon economy over the next few decades.

In 2012, refined oil products provided around a third of the primary energy used in the UK, with total demand at 67 million tonnes.

Currently approximately 61% of UK demand for refined oil products is met from domestic refineries producing refined product from crude oil, and 39% through imports from other countries.

DECC claims that over recent years, production from UK refineries has been declining whilst imports have been increasing.

DECC will assess the contribution that both these sectors make to the economy, jobs and skills development and environmental protection, and the impact of policy and regulatory framework on competitiveness.

It also plans to incentivise investment and improve competitiveness to improve UK supply resilience.

To download the call for evidence, please click the link on the right.