HL Deb 27 November 1985 vol 468 cc965-6WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What proportion of energy used (a) in the home, and (b) in industrial premises, consists of (a) gas, and (b) oil (either as such or as electricity from oil-fired power stations), derived from installations on the British continental shelf.

Lord Gray of Contin

Oil use in power stations was seriously affected by the miners' dispute in 1984. The table given below relates to 1983 as a more typical year:

Percentage contributions to final consumption (including non energy use of fuels)
1983 Domestic Industry
Gas (UKCS only)* 44 per cent. 22 per cent.
Direct use of oil (all sources) 6 per cent. 40 per cent.
Electricity 18 per cent. 12 per cent.
Oil as a proportion of all fuels used in the public supply power stations 8 per cent.
* Estimated

Identification of the UKCS content of oils used in power stations and final consumption is not possible as the contribution of imported and UKCS oils to each product varies according to product and is not known by my department. For reference in 1983, 57 per cent. of refinery throughput came from UKCS crude and natural gas liquids.