The photo, taken on October 29, 2024, shows a general view of Trump International Golf Links and its sand dunes at Balmedie in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, during construction work on a second golf course in a development built on the dunes.
Andy Buchanan | Af | Getty Images
President-elect of the USA Donald Trump on Friday called on the UK to “open” the North Sea, accusing the Labor government of “making a very big mistake” with its energy tax policy.
His comments came in response to a report regarding the plans of the American oil and gas producer APA Corporation, a unit of Apache, which will cease its operations in the North Sea by the end of 2029.
The Texas-based company said in a statement Filing an application with the SEC Last year, further production in the UK North Sea became uneconomic due to the impact of the UK Windfall Tax, a policy officially known as Tax on energy profits (EPL).
“Britain is making a very big mistake. Open the North Sea. Get rid of the windmills!” Trump he said on the social media platform Truth Social.
Britain's ruling Labor Party said last October it would raise the windfall profits tax on North Sea oil and gas producers to 38% from 35% and extend the end date of the policy to March 2030.
The money raised from windfall profits tax will be used to support the UK transformation from fossil fuels, which, according to the government, will increase the country's energy security and energy independence.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stands near a wind turbine during a visit to the RWE Brechfa Forest West Onshore wind farm in Pencader, south Wales, August 20, 2024.
Ben Birchall | Af | Getty Images
CNBC reached out to a spokesman for the U.K. Department of Energy Security and Net Zero for a response to Trump's social media post.
Shell he declined to comment when contacted by CNBC. A leading British North Sea manufacturer Port Energy and energy BP they couldn't answer right away.
The North Sea is considered one of the UK's best sources of solid offshore wind energy, as confirmed by several European countries alongside the UK he promised transforming this area into Europe's largest “green power plant”.
The rapidly growing offshore wind sector has survived a hot time however, they have been hampered in recent years by rising costs, supply chain disruptions and higher interest rates.