News

Pembrokeshire politicians welcome Badenoch’s oil pledge

Published

7 months ago

September 3, 2025

PEMBROKESHIRE Senedd Members Paul Davies and Samuel Kurtz have welcomed a pledge by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch to scrap net zero requirements on oil and gas companies drilling in the North Sea.

The announcement is part of Ms Badenoch’s plan to overhaul the North Sea Transition Authority by replacing its twelve-page mandate with a single instruction to extract the maximum possible amount of fossil fuel. She pointed to Norway’s continued exploitation of its North Sea reserves and pledged that a future Conservative government would remove barriers to domestic production.

Industry analysts say that under current rules, the UK still imports around 40 per cent of its oil and gas, despite 75 per cent of national energy needs being met by fossil fuels. Proponents argue that boosting domestic supply could reduce reliance on imports and strengthen energy security, while critics warn it risks undermining the UK’s 2030 and 2050 climate targets.

Pembrokeshire’s role in UK energy

Pembrokeshire is already one of the UK’s most important energy hubs. The Valero oil refinery at Pembroke is the largest in the UK, processing up to 270,000 barrels of crude oil per day. Alongside this, the Dragon LNG and South Hook LNG terminals at Milford Haven handle around 30 per cent of the UK’s gas supply, importing liquefied natural gas from Qatar, the US and other sources.

The proposed Celtic Freeport, which covers Milford Haven and Port Talbot, is expected to create up to 16,000 jobs across South Wales by combining new floating offshore wind opportunities with the region’s existing petrochemical and refining expertise.

Supporters of Badenoch’s pledge argue that expanding North Sea production would directly benefit Pembrokeshire by increasing throughput at Valero and securing long-term activity for the LNG terminals, while also strengthening supply chains and skilled employment across the region.

Local voices

Preseli Pembrokeshire MS Paul Davies said: “Energy prices in the UK are too high and whilst fossil fuels are still an important part of the energy mix, it’s vital that they are extracted responsibly. We know that other European countries are tapping into these valuable resources, and the UK should be doing what it can to extract oil and gas too.

“Ms Badenoch’s announcement marks a move towards backing the domestic energy industry, supporting skilled jobs, and protecting our energy security. Pembrokeshire plays an important role in meeting the nation’s energy needs and so I’m pleased that the Leader of the Conservative party has recognised the importance of the sector and has committed to reducing our dependence on imports by supporting domestic production.”

Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire MS Samuel Kurtz added: “Pembrokeshire has a proud history at the heart of the UK’s oil and gas industry, and I have long championed the sector and the wider supply chain that supports it. Kemi Badenoch’s pledge to remove unnecessary net zero restrictions on North Sea operators is a welcome step in unlocking the full potential of our domestic energy resources.

“With initiatives such as the Celtic Freeport, Pembrokeshire is uniquely positioned to benefit from a growing domestic petrochemical industry, creating highly skilled jobs and driving prosperity across the region. Supporting our oil and gas sector responsibly ensures energy security for the nation while seizing new opportunities for local economic growth. This is a clear chance to build on Pembrokeshire’s energy heritage and secure a strong, prosperous future for our communities.”

National debate

Labour ministers have maintained their opposition to new North Sea drilling licences, arguing that more extraction will not cut bills or improve security, while campaigners warn it would jeopardise the UK’s climate commitments. However, industry figures suggest that linking new resources to existing infrastructure — known as “tiebacks” — could extend the life of the North Sea and provide billions of barrels more output by 2050.

For Pembrokeshire, the debate is not just political but practical: the region already sits at the centre of Britain’s energy network, and decisions taken in Westminster about the future of North Sea oil and gas could have direct consequences for the jobs, industry and communities along the Haven Waterway.

News

Motorcyclist injured in Johnston crash after overtaking lorry

Published

17 hours ago

March 16, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Rider treated by paramedics following collision with van pulling out from junction

A MOTORCYCLIST was treated by paramedics after a collision with a van in Johnston on Monday morning (Mar 16).

The crash happened shortly after 9.15am as the rider was overtaking a lorry through slow-moving traffic on the main road. It is understood the lorry blocked the rider’s view of a van pulling out from a junction near KO Carpets.

Police units attended promptly to assist at the scene.

The motorcyclist is not believed to have been seriously injured.

The van suffered slight damage, including a broken wing mirror.

The road was not closed, police said.

Health

Plaid Cymru to hold public meeting over Withybush hospital surgery cuts

Published

19 hours ago

March 16, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Candidates say residents must be heard after emergency services decision

PLAID CYMRU candidates for the Ceredigion Penfro constituency will host a public meeting in Pembrokeshire to discuss concerns over the future of services at Withybush Hospital.

The event will take place at 6:30pm on Monday (Mar 31) at Letterston Village Hall, giving residents the opportunity to share their experiences and concerns following Hywel Dda University Health Board’s decision last month to remove emergency general surgery from the hospital.

Campaigners say the move will force many patients requiring urgent treatment to travel further for care, raising fears about the potential impact on patient safety in rural west Wales.

Elin Jones, Plaid Cymru lead candidate for Ceredigion Penfro, said: “Withybush is such an important hospital for the community and residents of Pembrokeshire. The decision to remove its emergency general surgery will severely weaken the life-saving capacity of this hospital.

“Plaid Cymru has long championed small rural hospitals such as Bronglais and Withybush. We need to ensure these hospitals remain strong local services within our communities. Withybush should have the basic life-saving and everyday treatment services it needs to function as a full general hospital.”

Kerry Ferguson, Plaid Cymru candidate for Pembrokeshire within the Ceredigion Penfro constituency, said the recent success of a public petition had demonstrated the strength of local feeling.

“It’s great to see that the online petition calling for Welsh Government intervention to restore emergency surgery and essential services at Withybush has reached its target, meaning it will now be debated in the Senedd,” she said.

“We are extremely disappointed by the Health Board’s decision to remove emergency general surgery at Withybush. Increased journey times for anyone in need of urgent medical treatment will put lives at risk. We need government intervention now to overturn this decision.”

Residents across Pembrokeshire have continued to raise concerns about the future of services at the hospital, which has long been a focal point in debates about healthcare provision in rural west Wales.

Climate

Research vessel begins mission to study seabed carbon in Irish Sea

Published

19 hours ago

March 16, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Bangor University scientists join £2.1m project investigating the impact of bottom trawling on carbon stored beneath the seabed

A STATE OF THE ART research vessel has set sail from Liverpool to investigate how bottom trawling may affect carbon stored in the seabed of the Irish Sea.

The scientific expedition is part of a £2.1 million research project funded by the Natural Environment Research Council and led by Professor Jan Geert Hiddink of Bangor University.

A team of eighteen scientists has embarked on the RRS Discovery, one of the world’s most advanced research vessels, for a three-and-a-half-week voyage studying the impact of fishing activity on carbon held in seabed sediments.

Before the ship departed, a number of local dignitaries were invited aboard for a tour of the vessel, including Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram and National Oceanography Centre Operations Director Natalie Campbell.

Professor Jan Geert Hiddink, from Bangor University’s School of Ocean Sciences, said bottom-trawl fishing is both vital to global food supply and a major disturbance to seabed environments.

“Bottom-trawl fishing provides around a quarter of global seafood but is also the most extensive physical disturbance caused by human activities to stocks of carbon locked in seabed sediments,” he said.

“This is important because recent evidence suggests that disturbing the seabed could lead to the release of significant amounts of greenhouse gases from the seabed into the atmosphere.

“There are still major uncertainties about how this disturbance affects carbon stored beneath the seabed. As a result, the impact of these disturbances is largely unquantified and currently unregulated.

“The aim of this project is to gain a much clearer understanding of what is happening so that scientists, policymakers and regulators can make informed decisions in the future.”

Seven research organisations are collaborating on the project: Bangor University, the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), Heriot-Watt University, the University of Leeds, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, the University of St Andrews, and Imperial College London.

Caption: Scientists prepare to begin their research aboard the RRS Discovery, one of the world’s most advanced research vessels.