Boris Johnson has hosted the leaders of the UK oil and gas industry at Downing Street to discuss how to achieve "greater energy independence" for Britain.
BP's Bernard Looney and Diedre Michie of OEUK were among those in attendance as the UK Government stepped up its efforts to increase gas production in the North Sea.
TotalEnergies, Shell, Harbour Energy, Neptune Energy, Equinor and Esso were also among the attendees, along with the Oil and Gas Authority.
The Prime Minister discussed "boosting supply of domestic gas" from the North Sea and how the UK can remove barriers being faced by investors and developers so this can be achieved more quickly.
Speaking afterwards, the Conservative leader said the government was also looking to accelerate carbon capture projects, offering fresh hope for Peterhead's pioneering Acorn Project.
The roundtable comes as the UK Government prepares to publish its new energy supply strategy - reportedly as soon as next week - with renewable energy, nuclear and domestic gas "all a crucial part of achieving its aims".
Russian dependence 'will end'
Writing in this morning's Daily Telegraph, Mr Johnson said that as long as the West is economically dependent on Putin, he will do "all he can to exploit that dependence".
"And that is why that dependence must – and will – now end," he said.
"We need permanently to reduce the cost of energy at source - and that will only happen if our supply is more secure, more sustainable and less vulnerable to manipulation by others.
"We need to take back control. Later this month, I will set out a British Energy Security Strategy - how the UK will become more self-sufficient and no longer at the mercy of bullies like Putin.
"At the heart of the strategy is green energy of all kinds.
"Green electricity isn’t just better for the environment, it’s better for your bank balance. A kilowatt from a North Sea wind turbine costs less than one produced by a power station running on gas shipped to the UK from overseas. And if a quarter of our power wasn’t already coming from renewables, your bills today would be even higher than they already are.
"Renewables are the quickest and cheapest route to greater energy independence. They are invulnerable to Putin’s manipulations. He may have his hand on the taps for oil and gas. But there is nothing he can do to stop the North Sea wind.
Mr Johnson said more would be done to exploit the potential of all renewable energy technologies in this country, from tidal power to hydro, and from solar to geothermal.
He also indicated that the government would seek to reverse the "historic mistake" not to grow nuclear power.
Oil and gas has a role to play
The prime minister also confirmed that the UK will continue to maximise its oil and gas resources as it makes the transition.
"It is crazy that we are importing oil and gas from Putin’s Russia when we have our own resources in the North Sea," he said.
"It is time to give investors more confidence in British hydrocarbons. That way, we will have more domestic energy resilience as we make the transition to a zero carbon future.
"And we will need hydrocarbons to make hydrogen – the low carbon fuel that has perhaps the greatest potential of all.
"I don’t doubt that there will be tough times ahead. The process of weaning the world off Russian oil and gas, and hydrocarbons in general, will be difficult. But it can be done.
"We can further boost the use of low carbon energy, continuing to lead the world in the race to net zero. We can cut the crippling bills being inflicted on homes and businesses across the country. And we end the bullying from the Kremlin."
You can read the Prime Minister's full column here.