Back to the Drawing Board in the UK (A Review of a Recent Energy White Paper)

The news that oil production from the North Sea had dropped by 17% could not have come as a pleasant distraction to the current British Government. They were well aware that production was declining, and had anticipated getting all their additional needs for gas from Norway as their own domestic production declined.

But where to get the additional crude oil needed for transportation?

The recent Energy White Paper from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), (pdf here) although focused on a low carbon economy, also points to the anticipated source of increased energy supplies to the UK.