THE United States plans to increase gas exports to the UK next year, easing its close ally’s reliance on Russian energy, a joint statement said today.

Washington will seek to export at least 9-10 billion cubic metres of liquid natural gas over the next year via UK terminals, more than doubling the level in 2021, it added.

“This partnership will bring down prices for British consumers and help end Europe’s dependence on Russian energy once and for all,” British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in the statement.

The tie-up forms part of a new UK-US energy security and affordability partnership “to reduce global dependence on Russian energy exports, stabilise energy markets and step up collaboration on energy efficiency, nuclear and renewables”.

The partnership will be steered by an action group, the first meeting of which is due tomorrow. – AFP, December 7, 2022.