Mr Kwarteng said:"In our national mission to ensure the UK's clean energy independence, Peter's wealth of experience in the energy industry will prove invaluable as we ensure our energy security into the future by boosting nuclear power and renewables in the UK.
Part of Mr Mather's brief will include the UK's transition to a low-carbon economy, a Whitehall source said on Wednesday, although they acknowledged that the focus had switched to energy security since Vladimir Putin's decision to declare war on Ukraine. A new energy security strategy prioritising renewable and domestically generated sources was being targeted for launch this week, but is reported to have been delayed amid funding disagreements between Number 10 and the Treasury.He was BP's UK head of country and regional president for Europe for more than a decade, and has remained as chair of the company's European supervisory board.