Energy Security Minister Michael Shanks has set out plans to restart the approval process for the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil fields in the North Sea following a lengthy consultation.
The move will clear a path to begin drilling if Equinor and Shell, developers of Rosebank and Jackdaw respectively, reapply after a judge ruled the initial permissions were unlawful.
The judge said the applications should have accounted for the carbon produced by burning the oil and gas produced at the fields, not just that produced by the drilling.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband will be tasked with making the final decisions to allow the permissions. The Labour manifesto rules out granting licences for new fields. Rosebank and Jackdaw already have their licences.
Offshore Energies UK said the guidance is an important step in ensuring the responsible production of oil and gas produced in UK waters, alongside the acceleration of homegrown renewables.
David Whitehouse, CEO, said: “This is an important next step. The publication of this guidance enables firms to move ahead with the process to responsibly develop projects that add jobs and value to the UK economy
“The UK’s offshore energy industry takes its environmental responsibilities seriously and has reduced emissions from oil and gas production by 28% since 2018. The North Sea is held up as one of the most robustly regulated sectors in the world and our approach is recognised internationally as an example of good practice.”
Liz Cameron, chief executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said: “By restarting the approval process for Rosebank and Jackdaw, the Government has not just indicated that it is willing to take critical action in pursuit of economic growth; it has also set the tone for the future of the UK energy sector.”
Greenpeace UK head of climate Mel Evans said: “It’s only right for the government to take into account the emissions from burning oil and gas when deciding whether to approve fossil fuel projects currently pending.
“Since Rosebank and other drilling sites will pump out a lot of carbon while providing little benefit to the economy and no help to bill payers, they should fail the criteria ministers have just set out.
“The UK has just been hit by major droughts, wildfires and ocean heatwaves. Rosebank alone could release as many planet-heating emissions as 56 coal plants running for a year. Ed Miliband was right to say approving Rosebank would be climate vandalism – he should remain true to his word.”
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