The U.K. government will make keeping the lights on the top priority with natural gas and nuclear power playing a central role in that goal, Energy and Climate Change Secretary Amber Rudd is expected to say in a major speech later Wednesday setting out a new energy policy for the country.

Russia is preparing to sell his recently purchased North Sea gas fields.

Russian billionaire Mikhail Fridman began building an international energy company on Monday, closing a €5.1 billion ($5.7 billion) purchase of German utility RWE AG ’s oil-and-gas business over British opposition that could force the sale of the unit’s U.K. assets.

Investment by British companies slowed in the final quarter of 2014, official data showed Thursday, as the fall in oil prices drove the North Sea extraction industry to cut down spending on infrastructure.

Shares in Norwegian Energy Company ASA (NOR. OS) plunged over 70% Wednesday and the oil firms chairman resigned after it warned that it could face problems in meeting its financial commitments.

Consolidation in U.K. Shale-Gas Sector Under Way