The London Energy Security Conference, announced last August by former UK Energy Secretary Grant Shapps, has yet to materialize, according to foreign diplomats and energy industry figures. The summit, which was meant to coincide with the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, was intended to bring together global players to discuss energy price shocks and the future of the global energy system. However, there is no confirmed venue, agenda, or invitations for the event. Some suspect that the conference was quietly shelved after Shapps was promoted to Defense Secretary. The responsibility for the summit now lies with Claire Coutinho, Shapps’ successor at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), but doubts remain about whether the event will ever happen.
There is uncertainty regarding the form the summit could take if it does eventually occur. Shapps had focused on the government’s approach to energy security, particularly related to the UK’s North Sea oil and gas reserves. However, internal discussions have been considering a clearer focus on the security of supply chains for net-zero related technologies. Coutinho may also want to put her own stamp on the event by giving it more of an energy investment focus, drawing on her previous work in finance and at the Treasury. For now, potential attendees are still in the dark about the summit’s plans.
The DESNZ insists that the conference is still on their agenda and points to the mention of an “energy conference” in November’s King’s Speech. However, no further details have been shared. The lack of information has raised doubts about the government’s commitment to hosting the event. Some speculate that it may have been an idea announced without a detailed plan attached to it. Despite the uncertainty, there are still important questions to be answered about what a secure Europe-wide low-carbon energy system could look like and the role that the UK would play in it.
