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BP cuts investment in clean energy and boosts oil and gas in major strategy shift
CNN
BP slashed planned investment in renewable energy and said Wednesday that it would increase annual oil and gas spending to $10 billion, in a major strategy shift aimed at boosting earnings and shareholder returns.
BP slashed planned investment in renewable energy and said Wednesday that it would increase annual oil and gas spending to $10 billion, in a major strategy shift aimed at boosting earnings and shareholder returns. The oil giant cut planned annual investment in energy transition businesses by more than $5 billion, compared with its previous forecast, to between $1.5 billion and $2 billion per year. “We will be very selective in our investment in the transition, including through innovative capital-light platforms. This is a reset BP, with an unwavering focus on growing long-term shareholder value,” CEO Murray Auchincloss said. Under Auchincloss’ predecessor, Bernard Looney, BP (BP) pledged in 2020 to cut oil and gas output by 40% while rapidly growing renewables by 2030. BP lowered the reduction target to 25% in 2023. BP now aims to grow oil and gas production. Across the energy sector, major companies that shifted their position in response to the need to lower carbon emissions and curb climate change have returned their focus to oil and gas, where returns have become easier to obtain as fossil fuel prices have rebounded from Covid-19 pandemic lows.