Campaigners have criticized energy companies for seeking tax breaks, arguing that these firms are benefiting from the current global energy crisis, particularly linked to tensions in the Middle East. Some estimates suggest that scrapping the existing windfall tax on oil and gas firms could cost the UK up to £8.6 billion in lost revenue by 2030. In response, the UK government has proposed replacing the current energy profits levy with a new tax called the oil and gas revenue levy, set to begin in 2030. However, energy firms are reportedly pushing for an earlier implementation of this new tax regime. The industry group Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) claims that introducing the new tax system earlier, combined with a more flexible approach to licensing, could unlock 111 new projects on the UK Continental Shelf. This, they argue, could generate an additional £14.9 billion in tax revenue over the next decade and attract £50 billion in private investment. OEUK's energy policy director, Enrique Cornejo, has called for the new tax to be introduced as early as January 2027, arguing that this would help generate more stable and long-term revenues for the UK Treasury. Environmental and tax justice campaigners, including groups such as Greenpeace UK and Tax Justice UK, have strongly opposed the potential shift, calling it "scandalous." Research suggests that if oil prices remain around $100 per barrel, the new tax system would raise £8.6 billion less than the current windfall tax by 2030. If prices drop to $70 per barrel, the new system would generate no revenue, compared to £4.6 billion under the current tax. A letter to Chancellor John Healey signed by these groups urged the government to resist pressure to end the windfall tax early. Critics argue that oil and gas firms are profiting from global instability while ordinary people face rising energy costs. Flossie Boyd of Global Witness accused the industry of "cash[ing] in on fallout from the US-Israel war on Iran," while calling the industry’s claims about job creation and investment "ludicrous." A tax expert, Clare Aston, noted that the new tax system may not raise the same level of revenue as the current one and urged the government to revise the tax design in the upcoming Budget. Meanwhile, the UK government emphasized its commitment to long-term planning and investment in the energy sector, aiming to ensure the North Sea remains a hub for sustainable and prosperous energy production.