Domestic oil industry 'must be capitalised upon'

The UK's domestic gas and oil industry must each be utilised to the fullest extent as the country looks to achieve sustainability in its energy mix, according to secretary of state for energy and climate change Chris Huhne.

His comments were made in an article for the Telegraph, with the MP's opinions republished on the Department of Energy and Climate Change website.

"We must secure diversity of energy supplies from abroad while making the most of our home-grown energy, including North Sea oil and gas, and developing renewable technologies," he wrote.

However, he added that the challenge faced is substantial due to the deficit in the nation's budget and the current "addiction" to fossil fuels which power-generating industries must be weaned off of.

Mr Huhne revealed last week that the UK, Germany and France are to target carbon reductions of 30 per cent by 2020 - half as much again as is required under aims set out by the EU.