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Scotsman
19 hours ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Rosebank and other North Sea oil and gas fields could be given green light under new guidelines
The oil and gas industry has welcomed the consent process being restarted by the UK government. Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... UK ministers could sweep aside climate concerns to approve controversial oil and gas projects if the economic benefits are seen to outweigh the damage, under new guidance. The Labour government published the new guides for oil and gas developers who have received a licence for North Sea projects but still require environmental consent. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It will apply to the developers of the Rosebank oil field, Equinor and Ithaca, and Shell for its Jackdaw gas proposals. A small number of other projects could also come forward that already have a licence but need environmental consent, it is believed. Campaigners said approval for these projects in light of the new guidance would be "indefensible" and a 'political sleight of hand'. Rosebank and Jackdaw developers will need to reapply for environmental consent including the pollution from burning the oil and gas extracted from the projects It was drawn up after a Supreme Court ruling found the emissions caused from burning the oil and gas contained in a project, called Scope 3 emissions, needed to be taken into account in applications for environmental consent. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Amid the stricter guidance for oil and gas giants is an ability for UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband to weigh up the environmental harm against the economic benefits of allowing the project to proceed. Mr Miliband has previously branded the licence handed to the Rosebank project as 'climate vandalism'. Labour has previously ruled out issuing new oil and gas licences for the North Sea, but Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said the fuels will be needed for decades to come and indicated he would not 'interfere' with existing licences. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The International Energy Agency has previously said no new fossil fuel projects should be developed beyond existing fields if the world is to stay below 1.5C of global warming. Energy minister Michael Shanks said: 'This new guidance offers clarity on the way forward for the North Sea oil and gas industry, following last year's Supreme Court ruling. Energy Minister Michael Shanks | Contributed 'It marks a step forward in ensuring the full implications of oil and gas extraction are considered for potential projects and that we ensure a managed, prosperous, and orderly transition to the North Sea's clean energy future, in line with the science. 'We are working with industry, trade unions, local communities and environmental groups to ensure the North Sea and its workers are at the heart of Britain's clean energy future for decades to come – supporting well-paid, skilled jobs, driving growth and boosting our energy security.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The guidance states that the 'significance of environmental effects will always be considered…on a case-by-case basis'. The advice to fossil fuel giants states that 'when reaching a decision as to whether agreement should be given to the grant of consent', Mr Miliband 'will consider the environmental effects of the project and will form a view of the overall balance of advantage between any potential significant effects on the environment and wider benefits to the interests of the nation and any other relevant factors in proceeding with the project'. A map showing the location of the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil fields | Kimberley Mogg/NationalWorld It adds: 'In reaching this view the Secretary of State will usually consider, amongst other matters, the severity, extent, understanding and duration of the significant effects, the Government's overall energy and environmental objectives, and the potential economic and other advantages of the project proceeding. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'This includes an assessment of the extent to which the project aligns with the Government's stated objectives for the future of the North Sea.' Friends of the Earth Scotland's head of campaigns, Caroline Rance, said 'it would be indefensible for ministers to know the climate harm and yet approve new oil fields'. The organisation's oil and gas campaigns manager, Rosie Hampton, added: 'It would be morally, financially and environmentally dishonest for a minister to try and force through new oil by focusing on narrow economic concerns.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Tessa Khan, executive director of Uplift, said: 'The new rules mean that oil and gas companies will finally be forced to come clean over the enormous harm they are causing to the climate.' Uplift's executive director Tessa Khan She claimed Rosebank would not lower fuel bills or boost energy independence as most of the oil would be exported. Greenpeace UK head of climate Mel Evans said approving the projects would be a 'political sleight of hand' that would benefit oil giants while leaving the UK hooked on fossil fuels. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Chief executive of Offshore Energies UK (OEUK), David Whitehouse, said the new guidance was 'an important next step'. He added: '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 and boost energy security. 'The UK's offshore energy industry takes its environmental responsibilities seriously and has reduced emissions from oil and gas production by 28 per cent 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. 'Energy security is national security. In an increasingly volatile world, the widening gap between the energy we produce and what we import matters. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Oil and gas produced in the UK must remain the provider of choice over imports which are often associated with higher emissions, fall outside of our regulatory control, contribute no UK taxes and support no UK jobs.' Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said: 'The new guidance issued today does not give clarity that the UK Government will actually start putting the climate first. But it does at least mean that the fossil fuel profiteers will no longer be able to hide the scale of damage that new oil and gas drilling will cause to our climate. 'It's been obvious for years that promising a future based on fossil fuels is a dangerous fantasy. Real energy security, cheaper bills and better jobs can all be achieved by investing in home-grown, green renewables. 'But the test now will be whether Labour Ministers face up to scientific reality.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The new guidance comes as an analysis, seen by The Scotsman, revealed that the UK government is poised to miss out on more than £250 million from tax revenue over the Rosebank plans - putting the economic benefits of the project in doubt.
Bloomberg
20 hours ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Contested UK Oil Fields Get New Guidance for Environment Permits
Two controversial oil and gas fields in the UK — led by Equinor ASA and Shell Plc — will now have the opportunity to re-apply for environmental permits after the government published a guidance on how it will asses the climate impact of fossil fuel projects. While the state gave no indication of whether the Rosebank and Jackdaw projects could gain approvals, it said the long-awaited document provides 'greater clarity and stability' for the industry, according to a statement from the the UK's Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
BBC News
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
How Hartlepool film production village is set to reshape the town
A new film production village will bolster the north-east of England's reputation as a centre for the screen industry, while boosting its economy and regenerating a town, it is village is planned for Hartlepool and aims to provide film makers with everything they need to make a movie or TV show without having to leave the to the Northern Studios, Hartlepool already has a foundation to build on and has been used to produce feature film Jackdaw, the BBC comedy Smoggie Queens and ITV North East Screen chief executive Alison Gwynn said expanding the studios and creating the village meant Hartlepool could "attract bigger productions with bigger budgets". "The production village gives us a real opportunity to be a bit more dynamic and future facing in terms of where the industry's is going," she said."One thing to think about is how that links up with digital and podcasts and music and the future development of content - not just linear TV." A consultation on the development plans for the village is under way and if approved will consist of two main first is the extension of the Northern Studios on Lynn Street, which is being funded by £15m from the Tees Valley Investment second is the production of the wider village across the Lynn Street and Whitby Street area, which has received £16.5m from the Levelling Up Borough Council leader Brenda Harrison said the campus area would span 300sq m (3,230sq ft) and be located near the Northern School of Art and the local college."There are 10 buildings going to be used and these are derelict buildings at the moment. So we're bringing them back to life," she said."It's to do with the whole regeneration of that area." Raising the roof Ms Gwynn said Northern Studios was the only dedicated studio space in the North East but since it was established the industry has changed."The growth in the sector in the region has been bigger and quicker than anybody could ever have imagined and actually the studios now need to be bigger," she they are only able to accommodate one production at a time but the expansion will allow space for a roof of the studio will also be raised to allow larger productions to use the Gwynn said the changes would ensure Hartlepool was not just a "one trick pony" but could cater to different types of productions, such as pilots and quiz shows with live said the region had previously missed out on some of these productions, including a quiz show being made with County Durham business woman and Dragons' Den star Sara Davies."She's currently making an ITV quiz show in Manchester," said Ms Gwynn."She would have loved to have made that show in the North East and have a North East audience in it but the studio right now just isn't big enough." Jobs and training About 130 jobs are expected to be created once the development is completed in council leader Harrison also believes the village's proximity to the town's colleges will have an impact on young people."It will be a great benefit to students, both while they're doing their courses and hopefully post-course when the jobs will be there for them," she said."By linking with the colleges the production village will benefit from their views and skills and be able to prepare them for the future."Many productions currently only use Hartlepool for the actual filming of their projects as the facilities for pre and post-production work are not currently film village aims to bring these facilities, such as costume designers and editing suites, to the area so crews do not need to leave. These will be located in the newly renovated Gwynn also believes the village will provide opportunities for businesses which may not have considered themselves able to work with the film said having a strong film sector would require a host of professionals such as caterers, accountants, graphic designers, joiners and painters."These businesses already exist in the region, they just hadn't thought a screen industry customer was on the radar for them," she said. Creating a cluster Hartlepool is not the only area in the North East attempting to boost its filming facilities. Sunderland is also set to become a major hub for the industry through the creation of the Crown Works Gwynn does not see the two sites becoming rivals, but believes they will complement each other."To have one studio base isn't enough to create a cluster and a cluster is the thing that's going to really create a long lasting industry in the region," she said."Hartlepool is going to be based on innovation, pilots, digital, music and mid-range drama. Crown Works Sunderland will be looking at multimillion-pound feature films and big, high-end dramas."She said there would be mid-range productions which would not be able to afford to operate in Sunderland but could work in believes Hartlepool will thrive as a supply chain hub for the industry but said its creation would benefit the whole region."What we'll see over the next couple of years is more and more production-based companies basing themselves not only in Hartlepool but also in Sunderland and then everywhere in between."The opportunity for growth in the sector is a whole North East-wide opportunity. It's absolutely not just Hartlepool or Sunderland." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
14-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Film village could make Hartlepool hotbed for 'world-class' shows
A new village for the TV and film industry could turn a town into a "hotbed for world-class" productions, developers are in the works to create the film production village in Hartlepool, which designers have said would establish it as a "significant creative centre" in the north-east of development would see the expansion of The Northern Studios complex and the creation of a production village in the Lynn Street and Whitby Street East Screen chief executive Alison Gwynne said the two projects would boost the wider creative industries and "provide opportunities for local people who have previously had to leave the region to work in the industry". Hartlepool Borough Council is leading on the production village project and has received £16.5m from the Levelling Up Fund to support the leader Brenda Harrison said: "Creating jobs, driving investment in Hartlepool and delivering regeneration are all key aims of our council and this project delivers all three in an abundance." Boosting 'job prospects' The Northern Studios expansion is set to be funded by £15m from the Tees Valley Investment Zone, which has a total of £160m allocated to drive the creative and digital Studios is the only large-scale film and TV studio in the North East and helped produce feature film Jackdaw and BBC comedy Smoggie studios are based next to the Northern School of Art, which provides training courses for the creative Martin Raby said the projects would bring economic benefits to the town and "provide work experience opportunities for students and boost employment prospects for our graduates". More information about the projects can be found at two consultation events taking place this week. The first will be held on 15 April at The Northern Studios, while the second will take place the following day at the former H&M unit at Middleton Grange Shopping Centre. Both will be held from 12:00 to 19:00 BST. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UK Oil, Gas Permits Disputed in Court by Environmental Group
(Bloomberg) -- A conservation group is challenging Britain's government in a London court over 31 North Sea oil and gas exploration licenses that it says could put marine protected areas and climate stability at risk. They Built a Secret Apartment in a Mall. Now the Mall Is Dying. Why Did the Government Declare War on My Adorable Tiny Truck? Trump Slashed International Aid. Geneva Is Feeling the Impact. How SUVs Are Making Traffic Worse Paris Votes to Make 500 More Streets Car-Free Oceana UK, part of an international conservation organization, said licenses granted by the previous Conservative cabinet in May last year were unlawful as they don't account for the impact on marine life and the environment. The Labour government, which has since taken over, has shifted its attention to the North Sea's clean energy future. Still, while the cabinet is committed to not issuing new field exploration licenses, it doesn't plan to revoke existing ones. Oceana argued that an example from earlier this year should be followed, when a British court quashed approvals for two oil and gas projects known as Rosebank and Jackdaw, led by Equinor ASA and Shell Plc respectively. The ruling forced the fields to re-apply for environmental permits. The fate of those and other projects has big implications for the UK North Sea, an aging oil and gas region where major new developments are dwindling. Oceana said the licenses involved in the latest case are inside marine-protected areas, yet that potential oil spills were not considered in their impact assessments. It estimated there were more than two oil or chemical spills every day last year in UK waters. A spokesperson for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero declined to comment on ongoing legal proceedings. Units of TotalEnergies SE, Perenco SA and Neptune Energy are among the companies that received the licenses, according to Oceana. --With assistance from William Mathis. (Updates with a comment from DESNZ in penultimate paragraph.) Business Schools Are Back Google Is Searching for an Answer to ChatGPT The Richest Americans Kept the Economy Booming. What Happens When They Stop Spending? A New 'China Shock' Is Destroying Jobs Around the World How TD Became America's Most Convenient Bank for Money Launderers ©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Sign in to access your portfolio
