News

Pembrokeshire politicians welcome Badenoch’s oil pledge

Published

3 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

BBC apologises to Herald’s editor for inaccurate story

Published

18 minutes ago

December 4, 2025

Staff Writer

THE BBC has issued a formal apology and amended a six-year-old article written by BBC Wales Business Correspondent Huw Thomas after its Executive Complaints Unit ruled that the original headline and wording gave an “incorrect impression” that Herald editor Tom Sinclair was personally liable for tens of thousands of pounds in debt.

The 2019 report, originally headlined “Herald newspaper editor Tom Sinclair has £70,000 debts”, has now been changed.

The ECU found: “The wording of the article and its headline could have led readers to form the incorrect impression that the debt was Mr Sinclair’s personal responsibility… In that respect the article failed to meet the BBC’s standards of due accuracy.”

Mr Sinclair said: “I’m grateful to the ECU for the apology and for correcting the personal-liability impression that caused real harm for six years. However, the article still links the debts to ‘the group which publishes The Herald’ when in fact they related to printing companies that were dissolved two years before the Herald was founded in 2013. I have asked the BBC to add that final clarification so the record is completely accurate.”

A formal apology and correction of this kind from the BBC is extremely rare, especially for a story more than six years old.

Business

First wind turbine components arrive as LNG project moves ahead

Published

3 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE FIRST ship carrying major components for Dragon LNG’s new onshore wind turbines
docked at Pembroke Port yesterday afternoon last week, marking the start of physical
deliveries for the multi-million-pound renewable energy project.

The Maltese-registered general cargo vessel Peak Bergen berthed at Pembroke Dock on
shortly after 4pm on Wednesday 26th November, bringing tower sections and other heavy
components for the three Enercon turbines that will eventually stand on land adjacent to the
existing gas terminal at Waterston.

A second vessel, the Irish-flagged Wilson Flex IV, has arrived in Pembroke Port today is
due to arrive in the early hours of this morning (Thursday) carrying the giant rotor blades.
The deliveries follow a successful trial convoy on 25 November, when police-escorted low-
loader trailers carried dummy loads along the planned route from the port through
Pembroke, past Waterloo roundabout and up the A477 to the Dragon LNG site.

Dragon LNG’s Community and Social Performance Officer, Lynette Round, confirmed the
latest movements in emails to the Herald.

“The Peak Bergen arrived last week yesterday with the first components,” she said. “We are
expecting another delivery tomorrow (Thursday) onboard the Wilson Flex IV. This will be
blades and is currently showing an ETA of approximately 03:30.”

The £14.3 million project, approved by Welsh Ministers last year, will see three turbines with
a combined capacity of up to 13.5 MW erected on company-owned land next to the LNG
terminal. Once operational – expected in late 2026 – they will generate enough electricity to
power the entire site, significantly reducing its carbon footprint.

Port of Milford Haven shipping movements showed the Peak Bergen approaching the Haven
throughout Wednesday morning before finally tying up at the cargo berth in Pembroke Dock.

Cranes began unloading operations yesterday evening.

The Weather conditions are currently were favourable for this morning’s the arrival of
the Wilson Flex IV, which was tracking south of the Smalls at midnight.

The abnormal-load convoys carrying the components from the port to Waterston are
expected to begin early next year, subject to final police and highway approvals.

A community benefit fund linked to the project will provide training opportunities and energy-
bill support for residents in nearby Waterston, Llanstadwell and Neyland.
Further updates will be issued by Dragon LNG as the Port of Milford Haven as the delivery
programme continues.

Photo: Martin Cavaney

Crime

Banned for 40 months after driving with cocaine breakdown product in blood

Published

3 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A MILFORD HAVEN woman has been handed a lengthy driving ban after admitting driving with a controlled drug in her system more than ten times over the legal limit.

SENTENCED AT HAVERFORDWEST

Sally Allen, 43, of Wentworth Close, Hubberston, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Dec 4) for sentencing, having pleaded guilty on November 25 to driving with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the prescribed limit.

The court heard that Allen was stopped on August 25 on the Old Hakin Road at Tiers Cross while driving an Audi A3. Blood analysis showed 509µg/l of Benzoylecgonine, a breakdown product of cocaine. The legal limit is 50µg/l.

COMMUNITY ORDER AND REHABILITATION

Magistrates imposed a 40-month driving ban, backdated to her interim disqualification which began on November 25.

Allen was also handed a 12-month community order, requiring her to complete 10 days of rehabilitation activities as directed by the Probation Service.

She was fined £120, ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £114 surcharge. Her financial penalties will be paid in £25 monthly instalments from January 1, 2026.

The bench—Mrs H Roberts, Mr M Shankland and Mrs J Morris—said her guilty plea had been taken into account when passing sentence.