Some scientists say the carbon capture and storage can be used to decarbonise industries that would take years to clean up - but campaigners say it just prolongs the oil and gas industry. Energy secretary Ed Miliband only consulted fossil fuel companies, including oil giants BP, Eni and Equinor between the general election and the government’s announcement to pump almost £22bn into controversial carbon capture and storage programmes, documents show.
![[A diagram showing the CCS process]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/10/04/08/159282a22098e8728a8dbbae4c4405c1Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzI4MTE0MDc1-2.77698688.jpg)
The details of meetings released to The Independent under freedom-of-information law show that Mr Miliband only met with broader industry members like academics and clean energy advocates after the October 4 commitment, sparking criticism the policy surrounding the contentious technology was being driven by oil and gas firms.
![[Prime minister Keir Starmer announcing £22 billion spend on carbon capture and storage projects]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/10/07/20/68f40d489931915f9b0fa041ac922ddcY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzI4NDEzNzI2-2.77699911.jpg)
Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer said that while there was a role for carbon capture in getting to net zero, she warned against it being used “as a fig leaf to continue burning fossil fuels.”. “My concern with the number of these meetings that have been with fossil fuel companies is that the government is listening to lobbyists who are telling them that they should be allowed to continue burning gas with carbon capture and storage attached,” she said.
![[Steel like that produced at Port Talbot, will be a tough industry to decarbonise]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/04/10/14/a5340bc64d64696fa61ac94aef891d2fY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzEyODQwNzc3-2.75711727.jpg)
A government spokesperson said ministers had a duty to meet with a range of stakeholders and have held meetings with representatives from right across the energy industry since July. “Carbon capture, usage and storage is vital for decarbonisation while boosting our energy independence, and the Climate Change Committee describes it as a necessity not an option for reaching our climate goals,” the spokesperson said.
![[The long-lasting risk stored CO 2 poses has been likened to spent nuclear fuel, which must be cared for for many years]](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2013/11/27/19/web-plutonium-getty.jpg)
