Latest news with #NorthSea
The Sun
20 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Bungling Ed Miliband paves way to approve new oil and gas licences
BUNGLING Ed Miliband has rewritten green rules to kick-start the approval of two new oil and gas fields. The eco zealot Energy Secretary today published updated legal guidance, paving the way for Rosebank and Jackdaw to seek permission to start drilling. 1 The projects were given the green light under the previous Tory government - but were later blocked by the Supreme Court after a successful legal challenge from eco activists. They accused ministers of failing to consider the emissions that would come from drilling rather than just those stemming from production. Now, Red Ed has been made to re-write government guidance on how emissions are assessed so oil and gas firms have more certainty when they apply for a licence. The move could lead to Rosebank and Jackdaw being given the go-ahead as soon as Autumn. 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. '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.' Jackdaw field, near Aberdeen, is estimated to provide six per cent of the UK's entire gas output once up and running. Rosebank will mainly produce oil to be exported, with the Treasury benefiting from tax revenues. The move could open the door to more oil and gas fields applying for licences – despite Mr Miliband's vow of no new approvals. Reform Deputy Leader Richard Tice accused the Energy Secretary of getting a grip over guidance 'out of fear'. He blasted: 'Labour fears losing votes to Reform UK, as more and more voters grow disillusioned with Labour's weak leadership and repeated abandonment of their campaign promises. 'Only Reform will truly scrap Net Zero, prioritise oil drilling, and invest in nuclear modular reactors. 'We are the party that will reduce energy bills, slash waste, and make work pay again.' Last night Sir Keir Starmer doubled down on his Net Zero mission. He told Talk: 'The long term aims here and our intention is going to renewables, which are cheaper. 'We have control over their security and therefore we're not affected when there's international conflict.'
Daily Mail
21 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Ed Miliband opens the door to more drilling in North Sea despite previously branding plans 'climate vandalism'
Ed Miliband has opened the door to more drilling in the North Sea despite previously branding projects 'climate vandalism'. The government has issued new guidance that will allow applications to be resubmitted for the Rosebank oil field and Jackdaw gas field. However, environmental groups are still urging the Net Zero Secretary to reject the schemes. The move comes after the Court of Session in Edinburgh upheld a legal challenge to the projects in January, ruling that processes had not been followed in granting consent. The UK Government and North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) were found to have acted unlawfully by not taking into account emissions resulting from the burning of the extracted fuels. The Tories were in power when clearance was given for Shell's proposals to develop the Jackdaw field in 2022, and Equinor and Ithaca Energy's Rosebank plans in September 2023. In the judgement, Lord Ericht said the consent should be 'reduced' - quashed - and reconsidered. Mr Miliband's Department for Net Zero has now issued guidance on how the environmental impacts of oil and gas drilling should be assessed. That is expected to see the projects revived - despite Mr Miliband pledging not to approve any new licences in the North Sea basin. He previously described the Rosebank plans as 'climate vandalism'. Mr Miliband will assess the environmental project's environmental impact, while 'taking into account and balancing relevant factors on a case-by-case basis - such as the potential economic impact and other implications of the project'. No decisions are expected to be made under the new guidance until Autumn at the earliest. 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. '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.' Labour's attitude has been in stark contrast to the US, where new president Donald Trump has been vowing a 'drill baby drill' policy to exploit natural resources. 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.' She argued Rosebank would not lower fuel bills or boost energy independence as most of the oil would be exported, and tax breaks would mean the public would cover most of the costs of development. She also said the extreme weather the UK is experiencing 'must be a wake-up call for this Government to stand up to the oil and gas firms'. 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. She said approving the projects would be a 'political sleight of hand' that would benefit oil giants while leaving the UK hooked on fossil fuels. 'Real energy security and future-proofed jobs for energy workers can only come through homegrown, cheap renewable energy, and that's what ministers should focus on,' she urged.
The Independent
a day ago
- Business
- The Independent
New environmental guidance published for halted North Sea oil and gas projects
Major North Sea oil and gas projects halted by a Supreme Court ruling will be able to reapply for consent after the Government published new environmental guidance. The Supreme Court ruled last year that emissions created by burning fossil fuels should be considered when granting planning permission for new drilling sites, in a case that focused on an oil well in Surrey but reverberated through the energy sector. A challenge brought by environmental campaigners in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling, over approval for the Rosebank oil field north-west of Shetland and the Jackdaw gas field off Aberdeen, was upheld at the Court of Session in Edinburgh in January. Greenpeace and Uplift had argued the UK Government and North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) had acted unlawfully when granting consent to the projects, as environmental impact assessments did not take into account downstream emissions resulting from the burning of the extracted fuels. The Government has now published new guidance on how the environmental impacts of oil and gas – including their downstream 'scope three' emissions created when the fossil fuels are burned – are included in assessments. Officials said offshore developers will now be able to submit applications for consent to extract fossil fuels in oil and gas fields that are already licensed, which includes Rosebank and Jackdaw. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband will 'consider the significance of a project's environmental impact, while taking into account and balancing relevant factors on a case-by-case basis – such as the potential economic impact and other implications of the project', the Government said. 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. But the green groups behind the legal challenge to the Rosebank and Jackdaw schemes said they were incompatible with the UK's climate commitments to curb the greenhouse gas emissions driving rising temperatures and dangerous weather extremes. 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, beyond which increasingly dangerous and irreversible impacts of climate change will be felt. 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. '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.' The Government pointed to £200 million in funding for a project to capture and store carbon in Aberdeenshire and a pilot in Aberdeen, along with Cheshire, Lincolnshire and Pembrokeshire, to help workers access jobs in new clean energy industries. 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.' She argued Rosebank would not lower fuel bills or boost energy independence as most of the oil would be exported, and tax breaks would mean the public would cover most of the costs of development. She also said the extreme weather the UK is experiencing 'must be a wake-up call for this Government to stand up to the oil and gas firms'. 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. She said approving the projects would be a 'political sleight of hand' that would benefit oil giants while leaving the UK hooked on fossil fuels. 'Real energy security and future-proofed jobs for energy workers can only come through homegrown, cheap renewable energy, and that's what ministers should focus on,' she urged.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
New environmental guidance published for halted North Sea oil and gas projects
Major North Sea oil and gas projects halted by a Supreme Court ruling will be able to reapply for consent after the Government published new environmental guidance. The Supreme Court ruled last year that emissions created by burning fossil fuels should be considered when granting planning permission for new drilling sites, in a case that focused on an oil well in Surrey but reverberated through the energy sector. A challenge brought by environmental campaigners in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling, over approval for the Rosebank oil field north-west of Shetland and the Jackdaw gas field off Aberdeen, was upheld at the Court of Session in Edinburgh in January. Greenpeace and Uplift had argued the UK Government and North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) had acted unlawfully when granting consent to the projects, as environmental impact assessments did not take into account downstream emissions resulting from the burning of the extracted fuels. The Government has now published new guidance on how the environmental impacts of oil and gas – including their downstream 'scope three' emissions created when the fossil fuels are burned – are included in assessments. Officials said offshore developers will now be able to submit applications for consent to extract fossil fuels in oil and gas fields that are already licensed, which includes Rosebank and Jackdaw. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband will 'consider the significance of a project's environmental impact, while taking into account and balancing relevant factors on a case-by-case basis – such as the potential economic impact and other implications of the project', the Government said. 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. But the green groups behind the legal challenge to the Rosebank and Jackdaw schemes said they were incompatible with the UK's climate commitments to curb the greenhouse gas emissions driving rising temperatures and dangerous weather extremes. 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, beyond which increasingly dangerous and irreversible impacts of climate change will be felt. 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. '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.' The Government pointed to £200 million in funding for a project to capture and store carbon in Aberdeenshire and a pilot in Aberdeen, along with Cheshire, Lincolnshire and Pembrokeshire, to help workers access jobs in new clean energy industries. 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.' She argued Rosebank would not lower fuel bills or boost energy independence as most of the oil would be exported, and tax breaks would mean the public would cover most of the costs of development. She also said the extreme weather the UK is experiencing 'must be a wake-up call for this Government to stand up to the oil and gas firms'. 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. She said approving the projects would be a 'political sleight of hand' that would benefit oil giants while leaving the UK hooked on fossil fuels. 'Real energy security and future-proofed jobs for energy workers can only come through homegrown, cheap renewable energy, and that's what ministers should focus on,' she urged.
Reuters
a day ago
- Business
- Reuters
UK publishes environmental guidance expected to impact North Sea drilling development
LONDON, June 19 (Reuters) - Britain on Thursday published long-awaited environmental guidance which is expected to impact the future development of two vast North Sea oil and gas fields by companies including Shell (SHEL.L), opens new tab and Equinor ( opens new tab. The guidance sets out how greenhouse gas emissions that would come from the oil and gas being used, known as downstream emissions, should be treated in any future government decisions to approve extraction. "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 department minister Michael Shanks said in a statement. "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." The document was ordered by the government following a landmark Supreme Court ruling last year which said planning authorities should have considered the impact of climate-warming emissions in approving an oil well near Gatwick Airport. In January a Scottish court said Britain's decisions to approve Shell's Jackdaw and Equinor's Rosebank projects in the North Sea were unlawful and must be retaken.
