Auto Amazon Links: No products found.
In the ongoing Scottish Labour leadership contest, the two candidates, Joe Fagan and Michael Marra, have both advocated for the swift approval of new drilling licenses in the North Sea. They emphasized the importance of the Rosebank oil and Jackdaw gas fields as sources of energy that can be extracted with cleaner methods than those available from foreign producers. Both candidates stressed that moving forward with these projects is crucial for sustaining jobs and supporting the economy. The decision on these licenses is expected to come soon, following the closure of consultations by UK Labour ministers.
Joe Fagan and Michael Marra emerged as the only contenders to secure the necessary nominations to replace Anas Sarwar, who recently announced his move to Andy Burnham’s UK government in the House of Lords. Another prospective candidate, Monica Lennon, was unable to gather enough backing from their Labour colleagues. After a hustings event in Stirling, both candidates shared their perspectives on the drilling issue. Marra described the decision as “finely balanced,” yet stated his preference for producing oil and gas domestically using cleaner techniques rather than relying on imports.
Fagan echoed these views and warned about the potential collapse of offshore supply chains if the licenses are not approved soon. He acknowledged that the UK government’s decision is complex, involving legal obligations to climate legislation, but he urged for an expedited resolution. If elected as leader, Fagan pledged to pressure the UK government to act swiftly and make a choice that favors both Scotland’s and the wider UK economy. The leadership contest outcome is scheduled to be announced on Saturday, 19 September.
The Rosebank and Jackdaw fields, located around 150 miles east of Aberdeen, had been approved under the former Conservative government with development already underway. However, in 2024, environmental organizations including Uplift and Greenpeace UK challenged this consent at the Court of Session in Edinburgh. Their argument centered on insufficient consideration of the climate impact associated with burning the fossil fuels these fields would produce. This legal challenge resulted in the initial approval being deemed unlawful, requiring a fresh decision by the regulator Opred. Uplift continues to call for rejection of the drilling applications, highlighting the threat to the planet and the risk of increased extreme weather. The final decision lies with the regulator and must be approved by Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh, with no specific timeline currently announced. Operators hope that, if approved soon, the Jackdaw field could begin producing gas by the coming winter
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found.