The future of the North Sea is the focus of a new Sky News documentary as the debate over further oil and gas development moves back to the centre of British politics.
Sky’s economics and data editor Ed Conway travels offshore and visits key parts of the UK’s energy infrastructure to examine how much oil and gas remains in the basin – and what role it could play in Britain’s energy security.
The programme comes as decisions loom over the Rosebank and Jackdaw developments, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham signalling his government will take a “pragmatic” approach to North Sea oil and gas.
WATCH: Sky News has produced an in-depth North Sea documentary
Burnham has said the UK cannot ignore its remaining resources, as the debate shifts to where the UK's energy supplies come from.
Conway speaks to offshore workers, energy industry leaders and environmental campaigners as he explores whether further domestic production can strengthen UK energy security while remaining compatible with the country’s net zero commitments.
The documentary comes at a critical moment for the industry, with the government facing growing pressure from both sides of the debate over whether Rosebank and Jackdaw should proceed.
Ed Conway touches down on Harbour Energy's Britannia platform
Russell Borthwick, Chief Executive of Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, said: “This is a must-watch for anyone who wants to understand the reality of the energy debate we are having in this country.
“Ed Conway has gone beyond the slogans and soundbites, speaking to the people who actually produce our energy and asking the fundamental questions too often missing from the debate: how much oil and gas do we still need, where should it come from, and what happens if we choose not to produce it ourselves?
“With critical decisions on Rosebank and Jackdaw now looming, this is exactly the kind of informed, grown-up conversation the country needs to be having.”