A Labour minister has promised that no action deemed “incompatible” with the UK’s net zero targets will be taken, as a decision looms over new drilling in the North Sea. The Government is facing pressure over the proposed oil and gas fields at Rosebank and Jackdaw, both off the coast of Scotland, which it must decide whether to approve or reject licences for.
Pragmatic approach to oil and gas
Andy Burnham has promised a “pragmatic” approach to oil and gas, amid calls from climate campaigners to halt the schemes following a summer of droughts and wildfires. Jonathan Brash, the Labour MP for Hartlepool, joined Scottish backbenchers this week in calling for Jackdaw and Rosebank to be approved – calling North Sea drilling “good for jobs” and the economy.
During a visit to Newcastle to celebrate the building of parts for a new nuclear power station at Siemens Energy’s Byker factory, energy secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that oil and gas would be “part of the mix for years to come”. Asked about the environmental impact of the Jackdaw and Rosebank plans, she added: “We have just had the summer we have had, where we have seen drought and wildfires.
“I don't think anyone should doubt our commitment to climate. I don’t think, candidly, that our communities would forgive us if we did not do the number one job of protecting them against climate change.
“That is about mitigating but it is also about adaptation and making sure our communities are resilient. We are committed to international leadership because, in the end, we cannot solve this on our own.
“But we are also committed to doing our bit here and there will be no decision I make here that will be incompatible with the trajectory we need, with the carbon budgets we are committed to, and the pathway and transition we need this country to go on – for this generation, because we are all feeling the impact of climate change now, and for future generations and our kids.”
Wind power expansion and jobs
Plans from the Crown Estate to lease more sections of the sea bed off the North East coast for the erection of hundreds of new wind turbines were announced in March, with hopes of creating up to 10,000 new jobs and a £12 billion boost to the economy. It is expected to open up around six gigawatts or more of offshore wind capacity – equating to roughly new 462 turbines and enough to power almost a quarter of the homes in England.
North East mayor Kim McGuinness is pushing for the creation of 25,000 new jobs in the renewables sector over the next decade, with an aim for the deepwater ports at Blyth, Sunderland, and the Tyne and their supply chains to be among the big winners from new UK wind farm developments. She was embroiled in a row over the plans with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who claimed in March that there was “no chance” of the promised jobs boom and urged more oil and gas drilling instead.
Ms Fahnbulleh said on Thursday: “Wind we think is huge for us, we think we have the capability. I think the North East has an amazing role to play and I come back to the point that we have to diversify our energy mix.
“We are clear that oil and gas are part of the mix for years to come, but we are also clear that we need clean, homegrown energy. Wind will be absolutely central to that.
“Government has backed it, we will continue backing it, and what I care about is translating that into kit being built, jobs being created, and it impacting our communities.”
