More than 200 musicians, including Massive Attack, Brian Eno, Olly Alexander, and Paris Paloma, have written to Prime Minister Andy Burnham, urging him to reject plans for further oil and gas drilling in the North Sea.
The letter specifically calls for the rejection of the Rosebank oilfield, warning that the project is unlikely to reduce energy bills or enhance energy security, as most of the oil is expected to be exported. The government's consultation on the Rosebank project, located about 80 miles north-west of the Shetland Islands, concluded on Monday. Ministers will now make a decision on its future, as well as that of the Jackdaw gasfield off Aberdeen, whose consultation ended a week prior.
Adura, the company behind both projects, has stated that they would generate £10.8 billion in investment and support 3,500 jobs during peak construction, with 880 employees over their production lifespan. However, environmental activists contend that extracting fossil fuels from what is described as the UK’s largest remaining untapped oilfield could accelerate climate change. Estimates suggest Rosebank could produce over 250 million tonnes of CO2 over its lifetime, which is equivalent to 70% of the UK’s annual emissions.
Brian Eno, co-founder of EarthPercent, stated that Prime Minister Burnham has a choice to make regarding the approval of Rosebank. A spokesperson for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said 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.