Ministers are reportedly set to approve a new gasfield in the North Sea, Jackdaw, later this month, with a major oilfield, Rosebank, also likely to receive approval later in the year, according to government sources. Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh is expected to give her recommendation for the Jackdaw field, located off the coast of Aberdeen, as soon as next week, with formal approval potentially following a week later.
Ms Fahnbulleh is also likely to approve the Rosebank mega-oilfield in the coming months. Officials are reportedly exploring ways to ensure proceeds from the Rosebank project are directed towards clean energy initiatives, similar to practices in Norway. The Rosebank field is the largest undeveloped field in UK waters, estimated to hold up to 500 million barrels of oil or oil equivalent.
Both Jackdaw and Rosebank have become central to the government's commitment to the North Sea. Green campaigners have called for the projects to be abandoned, while US President Donald Trump has urged the Prime Minister to open them up. A spokesperson for the energy department stated that the North Sea remains a vital national asset, supporting jobs, growth, and the UK's energy security, and that oil and gas will continue to play an important role alongside the transition to clean power.
Consultations for both projects, which the industry claims could provide 10% of the UK’s oil and gas output at their peak, concluded last month. Environmental approval for both fields was previously rescinded after a judge ruled that the operating companies, Shell and Equinor, needed to account for the carbon emissions from burning the produced oil and gas. The companies resubmitted their applications for environmental approval earlier this year.
While granting these environmental permits would not violate Labour’s manifesto commitment against issuing new oil or gas licences, many Labour MPs reportedly oppose the projects. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has expressed concerns about the impact of the green energy transition on workers in the north-east of Scotland.