The firms behind Jackdaw and Rosebank have vowed to press ahead after the UK Government moved to unblock the development of new North Sea fields.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has published legal guidance that will allow the owners of Rosebank oil field, Equinor, and Shell’s Jackdaw gas field, near Aberdeen, to apply for permission to start drilling.
The two projects had been given the go-ahead under the previous government but were blocked by the courts after environmentalists successfully challenged their oil and gas production licences.
They argued that the government had failed to take into account the greenhouse gas emissions that would result from the oil and gas being burnt — rather than simply the emissions from production.
Since then, ministers have been redrafting the government’s guidance on assessing emissions in an attempt to provide certainty to the industry.
Attempt to provide certainty
Announcing the changes, Michael Shanks, the energy minister, said the guidance would offer “clarity on the way forward for the North Sea oil and gas industry” following the Supreme Court ruling.
He added: “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.”
A spokesman for Equinor said: “We welcome clarity and can confirm that we will submit a downstream end user combustion emissions (‘Scope 3’) assessment in full compliance with the government’s new environmental guidance.”
A Shell spokesman said: “We are reviewing today’s guidance and remain committed to delivering Jackdaw, which is a nationally important energy project and supports the government’s growth agenda.”
Scotland sets new climate targets
Meanwhile, limits on the amount of greenhouse gases Scotland will emit over the coming decades have been announced by Scottish Government as part of action to tackle climate change.
The Carbon Budgets propose five-year, statutory limits on emissions from 2026 to 2045. The proposed budgets - which are replacing net zero targets - are in line with the advice from the independent Climate Change Committee (CCC) and the Scottish Government’s own assessments.
The average level of emissions for Scotland over each five-year period are:
- 57% lower than 1990 levels for 2026 - 2030
- 69% lower than 1990 levels for 2031- 2035
- 80% lower than 1990 levels for 2036 - 2040
- 94% lower than 1990 levels for 2041 - 2045
The proposals will be scrutinised by Parliament before being voted on in the autumn.
Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy Gillian Martin said: “When we publish our draft Climate Change Plan later this year, it will set out the policies needed to continue to reduce our emissions and meet our first three carbon budget targets.
“It will not ask the impossible of people. We will not sacrifice people’s health or wealth."