Energy giant Shell has reported record profits after oil prices soared following Russia's Ukraine invasion.
Profits increased 53 per cent to £68billion in 2022. Adjusted earnings, including taxes, more than doubled to £32.2 billion.
The profits are the highest in the gas and oil firm's 15-year history and were higher than the estimates of industry experts.
Energy bills have surged for households since the Ukraine invasion
Jacob King
Shell chief executive Wael Sawan said the results "demonstrate the strength of Shell’s differentiated portfolio, as well as our capacity to deliver vital energy to our customers in a volatile world".
He added: “We believe that Shell is well positioned to be the trusted partner through the energy transition."
Shareholders at the company are to be rewarded for the results with a15 per cent dividend increase and a four-billion-dollar share buyback programme.
The high profit margin has led to large pressure for increased taxes on energy providers.
Oil and gas prices rapidly rose in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 with households seeing their bills explode as a result.
Average annual energy bills were about £1,250 in the winter of 2021-22 but the typical household now pays about £2,500 a year. The cost is set to rise again to £3,000 a year from April.
The Government introduced a windfall tax - a one off levy on profits - last year in order to hep subsidies the costs of household energy bills.
Opposition politicians have accused Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of not doing enough to help families across the country.
Labour's Ed Miliband said this morning: "As the British people face an energy price hike of 40 per cent in April, Rishi Sunak is letting the fossil fuel companies making bumper profits off the hook with his refusal to do a proper windfall tax.
Ed Miliband has demanded action from the Government.
Dominic Lipinski
"Labour would stop the energy price cap going up in April."
Meanwhile Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: “No company should be making these kind of outrageous profits out of Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
“Rishi Sunak was warned as chancellor and now as Prime Minister that we need a proper windfall tax on companies like Shell and he has failed to take action.
“Families across the country are struggling to heat their homes and feed their families and this Government turns round and says ‘there is nothing we can do’."
