U.S. raising U.K. natural gas exports

FILE - U.S. President Joe Biden, right, listens to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit meeting, Nov. 16, 2022, in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia. In his first month as Britain's prime minister, Sunak has stabilized the economy, reassured allies from Washington to Kyiv and even soothed the European Union after years of sparring between Britain and the bloc. But Sunak’s challenges are just beginning. He is facing a stagnating economy, a cost-of-living crisis – and a Conservative Party that is fractious and increasingly unpopular after 12 years in power. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
FILE - U.S. President Joe Biden, right, listens to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit meeting, Nov. 16, 2022, in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia. In his first month as Britain's prime minister, Sunak has stabilized the economy, reassured allies from Washington to Kyiv and even soothed the European Union after years of sparring between Britain and the bloc. But Sunak’s challenges are just beginning. He is facing a stagnating economy, a cost-of-living crisis – and a Conservative Party that is fractious and increasingly unpopular after 12 years in power. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

The United States will increase exports of liquefied natural gas to Britain under a new agreement calling for the countries to work together in boosting energy security and driving down prices after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the agreement Wednesday as part of a larger effort to reduce global dependence on Russian energy exports, stabilize Western energy markets and increase collaboration on energy efficiency, nuclear power and renewables. The U.K.-U.S. Energy Security and Affordability Partnership will be steered by a new group led by senior British and White House officials.

Under the deal, the U.S. pledged to export at least 9 billion to 10 billion cubic meters of liquefied natural gas, or LNG, over the next year via U.K. terminals -- more than double the amount exported in 2021. U.S. gas exports to Europe have sharply increased after Russia's February invasion of Ukraine. The new commitment "will be good for both U.K. and European partners as we look to replenish gas storage next year," the White House and prime minister's office said in a statement.

"During this global energy crisis brought on by Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, it is more important than ever for allied countries to deepen their cooperation to ensure resilient international systems which reflect our shared values," Biden and Sunak said in a joint statement.

Working with allies, the U.S. and U.K. "commit to intensify our collaboration to support international energy security, affordability and sustainability, as Europe reduces its dependence on Russian energy," the leaders said.

The effort comes after the Group of Seven leading industrial nations, the European Union and Australia last week adopted a $60-per-barrel price cap on Russian oil meant to prevent price spikes and starve Russian President Vladimir Putin of funding for his war in Ukraine.

Assistant U.S. Treasury Secretary Elizabeth Rosenberg said Tuesday that Russia's invasion of Ukraine "created the uncertainty that drove the price of oil up" from a pre-invasion average of $70 per barrel to a high of more than $140 per barrel.

As a result, "Russia has reaped a windfall from elevated oil prices -- which has enabled it to fund brutal military operations and sustain its illegal and unjust war against Ukraine, all while the rest of the world bears the costs of higher energy prices," she said.

The price cap policy is designed to "limit Russia's ability to profit from its aggression, while promoting global energy stability by keeping Russian oil on the market," Rosenberg said at an anti-corruption conference.

The discounted price went into effect Monday, timed with an EU embargo on Russian oil shipped by sea and a ban on insurance for those supplies. The price cap, which was led by the G-7, aims to prevent a sudden loss of Russian oil expected to lead to a new surge in energy prices and further fuel inflation.

In the bilateral agreement, the U.S. and U.K. governments pledged to work "proactively" to identify and resolve issues faced by exporters and importers, while also working to reduce global reliance on Russian energy.

The two countries will seek also to expedite development of so-called clean hydrogen derived from natural gas and renewable sources, as well as promote nuclear power as a secure energy source.

Information for this article was contributed by Fatima Hussein of The Associated Press.

  photo  Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak leaves 10 Downing Street as he makes his way to Parliament to attend PMQs, in London, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022.(AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
 
 
  photo  President Joe Biden speaks about his economic agenda after touring the building site for a new computer chip plant for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
 
 

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