The east of England already produces a third of the UK’s electricity and gas through offshore wind farms in the southern North Sea, nuclear power stations at Sizewell, and Bacton Gas Terminal, where plans are in place for future technologies like hydrogen and carbon capture.

Bacton Gas Terminal in north Norfolk (Image: Mike Page)

The domestic supply of ‘homegrown’ energy has never been more important, with the war in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz - a chokepoint for about a fifth of the world's oil – causing fuel and gas prices to rise across the UK, exposing the volatility of prices and impact of the country’s reliance on overseas imports.

Industry leaders now say new oil and gas drilling using existing infrastructure in the North Sea would reduce this reliance, protecting consumers from price surges triggered by international conflicts.

In Q4 2025, total oil imports decreased by 15pc on the same quarter in 2024, or 1.8 million tonnes. Crude and natural gas liquids imports decreased by 2.8 million tonnes (23pc) (Image: UK Government)

The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has said that opening up “tie-back” arrangements is the “quickest way” to boost supplies by allowing for more fossil fuel extraction.

Jonathan White, general manager of Perenco UK's southern North Sea operation, which operates a site at Bacton, said natural gas "cannot be abandoned", with 24 million homes relying on it for heating and around 30pc of electricity generation........

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