Written questions by Bowie.

How much was paid for crude oil stocks to allow the Prax Lindsey Oil Refinery to continue operating.

The Official Receiver (OR) decided to cease refining operations at Prax Lindsey Oil Refinery on 21 July 2025. However, the sales process continued to be run in parallel, and the OR has received a range of proposals - from specific asset acquisition to acquisition of the entire Immingham site to purchasing the refinery as a going concern. The OR has progressed a small number of parties to the next phase of the sales process. This is based on an assessment of their proposals with regard to providing the best outcome for the Company’s creditors in line with the liquidator’s statutory duties. The OR aims to conclude negotiations with interested parties by mid-October. The Government is providing the OR with short-term funding to cover the essential operating costs of the site. The final operating cost will depend on market conditions and the strategy adopted by the OR. Parliament will be kept informed of the associated costs through the usual budgetary and reporting mechanisms. Ministers have held several meetings with the OR since the insolvency was announced. Insolvency legislation clearly determines the actions that are undertaken by the liquidator, which is the OR. The OR must act independent of Government, in accordance with statute, and they are accountable to the court. As an independent office holder, the OR cannot be directed by Government.

What discussions he has had with the Official Receiver at the Prax Lindsey Oil Refinery on the purchase of crude oil to allow the site to continue operating.

The Official Receiver (OR) decided to cease refining operations at Prax Lindsey Oil Refinery on 21 July 2025. However, the sales process continued to be run in parallel, and the OR has received a range of proposals - from specific asset acquisition to acquisition of the entire Immingham site to purchasing the refinery as a going concern. The OR has progressed a small number of parties to the next phase of the sales process. This is based on an assessment of their proposals with regard to providing the best outcome for the Company’s creditors in line with the liquidator’s statutory duties. The OR aims to conclude negotiations with interested parties by mid-October. The Government is providing the OR with short-term funding to cover the essential operating costs of the site. The final operating cost will depend on market conditions and the strategy adopted by the OR. Parliament will be kept informed of the associated costs through the usual budgetary and reporting mechanisms. Ministers have held several meetings with the OR since the insolvency was announced. Insolvency legislation clearly determines the actions that are undertaken by the liquidator, which is the OR. The OR must act independent of Government, in accordance with statute, and they are accountable to the court. As an independent office holder, the OR cannot be directed by Government.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the closure of the Prax Lindsey oil refinery on the domestic price of (a) diesel, (b) aviation fuel, and (c) heating oil for off-grid homes.

The Government continually monitors fuel supplies across the country and has robust, tried and tested plans in place to ensure these supplies are maintained at all times. We continue to work closely with industry to monitor the situation. The prices of fuel are influenced by (i) fluctuations in crude oil prices and (ii) refining margins, both of which are affected by global market conditions. We do not expect the closure of Prax Lindsey oil refinery to impact prices.

Whether he has had discussions with the Official Receiver on the inability to find a buyer for the Prax Lindsey oil refinery.

The Official Receiver (OR) decided to cease refining operations at Prax Lindsey Oil Refinery on 21 July 2025. However, the sales process continued to be run in parallel, and the OR has received a range of proposals - from specific asset acquisition to acquisition of the entire Immingham site to purchasing the refinery as a going concern. The OR has progressed a small number of parties to the next phase of the sales process. This is based on an assessment of their proposals with regard to providing the best outcome for the Company’s creditors in line with the liquidator’s statutory duties. The OR aims to conclude negotiations with interested parties by mid-October. The Government is providing the OR with short-term funding to cover the essential operating costs of the site. The final operating cost will depend on market conditions and the strategy adopted by the OR. Parliament will be kept informed of the associated costs through the usual budgetary and reporting mechanisms. Ministers have held several meetings with the OR since the insolvency was announced. Insolvency legislation clearly determines the actions that are undertaken by the liquidator, which is the OR. The OR must act independent of Government, in accordance with statute, and they are accountable to the court. As an independent office holder, the OR cannot be directed by Government.

What steps he is taking to (a) mitigate the effects of market dumping of and (b) reduce strategic dependency on imported photovoltaic inverters from China.

Solar goods and services are global commodities, and it is likely that we will continue to require imports in the short to medium term. The UK has a strong electrical manufacturing sector and there is an opportunity to scale this up through our ambitious Industrial Strategy, which has identified advanced manufacturing and clean energy industries as priority growth sectors, providing benefits for the manufacture of balance of system components, which are essential to enabling solar installations. The Solar Roadmap also commits government to consider the case to further support companies wishing to scale up production of solar technologies and processes, including inverters.

What assessment he has made of the potential for energy usage data collected by smart grid components to be exploited for (a) strategic and (b) military intelligence purposes by foreign state actors.

Recognising the importance of renewable and smart energy systems for flexibility and decarbonisation, the Department is working to ensure these systems are developed in a way that is secure by design, protecting energy supply, infrastructure and consumers, as well as national security. As part of this work, Government has published two consultation packages which set out proposals for minimum security and grid stability requirements, including for organisations remotely controlling electrical load. The Department collaborates with other government departments, agencies, Ofgem and industry partners to understand and mitigate threats to energy infrastructure, setting robust regulatory standards for cyber security through the Network and Information Systems Regulations. This includes working with regulators to ensure these regulations cover critical operators as the sector evolves.

What his Department’s planned timeline is for reviewing the electricity licensing regime to address the use of equipment from high-risk foreign vendors.

The protection and security of the energy sector is a priority for this Government, including manging risks from supply chains. DESNZ will continue to work closely with cross-government counterparts alongside industry to explore what further proportionate action can be taken to reduce the risks to energy infrastructure. Ofgem and DESNZ have robust market monitoring schemes to assess electricity generation licence applications. Ofgem’s principal objective is to protect the interests of existing and future consumers, including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and security of supply.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of prohibitions under the Electricity Act 1989 of the use of high-risk foreign vendors in licensed electricity infrastructure on energy security.

As an open economy the UK welcomes foreign trade and investment where it supports growth, meets our regulatory requirements, and does not compromise our national security. The protection and security of the energy sector is a priority of this Government. As well as the Electricity Act 1989, we have a range of effective measures in place which give the Government powers to balance an open investment environment to facilitate growth with protecting the parts of our economy that are the most sensitive to national security.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of a coordinated shutdown of photovoltaic inverters manufactured by companies headquartered in China on UK power grid stability.

Recognising the importance of renewable and smart energy systems for flexibility and decarbonisation, the department is working to ensure the system continues to be secure by design, and protects energy supply, infrastructure and consumers. As part of this work, Government has published two consultation packages which sets out proposals for minimum security and grid stability requirements, including for organisations remotely controlling electrical load. Maintaining security of energy supplies is a key priority and critical energy operators are required to meet a minimum standard of cyber security and resilience, through the Network and Information Systems Regulations 2018. Distributed and smaller-scale generation are key components of a smart and resilient energy system.

What steps he is taking to ensure that firmware updates to photovoltaic inverters connected to the UK grid cannot be used as a vector for cyber or physical disruption.

Maintaining security of energy supplies is a key priority and critical energy operators are required to meet a minimum standard of cyber security and resilience, through the Network and Information Systems Regulations 2018. The Department works continually with Ofgem and the National Cyber Security Centre to ensure that these regulations continue to capture all the most critical operators of energy generation systems. Distributed and smaller-scale generation are key components of a smart and resilient energy system. We are working to ensure that the system is developed in a way which is secure by design.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of different rules on the eligibility of biomethane to the (a) UK and (b) EU emissions trading scheme on costs to industry.

The Government recognises biomethane as a practical and cost-effective way of contributing to net zero greenhouse gas emissions. The UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) applies a zero emissions factor to combustion of biomethane where supplied directly to ETS installations. Where biomethane is injected into the gas grid, there is not currently a mechanism to ensure biomethane is accounted for separately. The UK Government and the EU commission have committed to work towards establishing a link between carbon markets, with the details of a potential link subject to negotiations.

Whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the proportion of oil imports transported through the Strait of Hormuz in the most recent period for which data is available.

Just under 12 per cent of UK oil imports originated in Kuwait (7.5 per cent), Saudi Arabia (2.5 per cent), and the United Arab Emirates (1.6 per cent) in January to April 2025 (Energy Trends, Table 3.14), similar to 2023 and 2024. The Strait of Hormuz is the primary export route for these countries. Imports were predominantly of jet fuel and white diesel.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of Scope 3 emissions reporting on oil and gas exploration in the North Sea.

Guidance on how Scope 3 emissions should be assessed as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment process has now been published. This provides clarity for the North Sea oil and gas industry. Developers can now resume the submission of environmental statements and each will be assessed on its own merits. As the projects to which these environmental statements relate will be subject to future regulatory decisions, it would be inappropriate to comment on the specifics of any individual cases.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of unused North Sea oil and gas on energy security.

The North Sea is a highly mature basin. Production of oil and gas has been declining since a peak in 1999 and around 80% of our oil is exported. The UK benefits from a secure and diverse energy system, which allows us to draw on several sources, reducing our reliance on any single source. The Government's Clean Energy Superpower Mission, supported by the largest investment in home-grown clean energy in British history, will enhance energy security by boosting our energy independence, protecting billpayers, and reducing exposure to global supply shocks.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of building a gigawatt scale nuclear plant at Wylfa on the (a) Welsh economy and (b) UK energy supply.

No decision has yet been taken on whether to pursue a future large-scale project beyond Sizewell C or where such a project would be located. Therefore, the government has not carried out an assessment of the economic impact of any future project on the Welsh economy. However, by comparison, Hinkley Point C supports about 10,000 jobs during construction and will support approximately 900 permanent jobs during its 60 years of operation.

What estimate he has made of the size of the UK’s gas reserves in each year between 2025 and 2030.

Data on UK gas reserves is published in Energy in Brief; data for 2024 will be published on 31st July 2025. The North Sea Transition Authority publish projected production between 2025 and 2050. The Midstream Gas System: Update to the Market published on 30th June highlights the government's focus on ensuring the resilience of gas supply and infrastructure as domestic production declines.

If he will publish the previous Government’s cost impact assessment for building a gigawatt scale nuclear plant at Wylfa.

Great British Energy–Nuclear acquired the Wylfa site last year and we will set out our plans in due course. No decision has yet been taken on whether to pursue a future large-scale project beyond Sizewell C, but all nuclear projects are subject to a detailed value for money assessment, including cost.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of heat networks on infrastructure-led economic growth.

The deployment of heat networks is predicted to have a positive impact on economic growth in the UK, however a full assessment of the scale of growth has not yet been undertaken. We will set out our long-term plans for heat networks in the Warm Homes Plan later this year, including the important role that they will play in achieving net zero, and in promoting economic growth.

Whether the contribution of heat networks will be included in the 10-year Infrastructure Strategy.

The Government recognises that to achieve net-zero we will need to ensure all technologies including heat networks are able to meet their potential. The 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy will reduce uncertainty by bringing together a long-term plan for the social, economic and housing infrastructure across the UK. This will include clean energy sectors, which include heat networks. We will set out our long-term plans for heat networks in the Warm Homes Plan later this year, including the important role that they will play in achieving net zero, and in promoting local economic growth.

What assessment he has made of the potential contribution of heat networks in achieving the UK’s net zero targets as part of the 10-year Infrastructure Strategy.

The Government recognises that to achieve net-zero we will need to ensure all technologies including heat networks are able to meet their potential. The 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy will reduce uncertainty by bringing together a long-term plan for the social, economic and housing infrastructure across the UK. This will include clean energy sectors, which include heat networks. We will set out our long-term plans for heat networks in the Warm Homes Plan later this year, including the important role that they will play in achieving net zero, and in promoting local economic growth.