UK Government urged to 'end the madness' as oil and gas consultation ends
Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce said that the end of the consultation around Jackdaw “should also mark the end of the uncertainty surrounding the UK oil and gas sector.”
The UK Government has been urged to “end the madness” as a North Sea oil and gas consultation ends today.
Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce said that the end of the consultation around Jackdaw gas field “should also mark the end of the uncertainty surrounding the UK oil and gas sector.”
New Prime Minister Andy Burnham has indicated that he is willing to approve both Jackdaw and oil field Rosebank - although he has been urged by environmental groups to refuse permission.
Production at both projects was approved by the Conservatives, but a court quashed those decisions last year after a challenge from Greenpeace, leaving the Labour Government to decide whether to go ahead.
A further consultation on Jackdaw, 150 miles east of Aberdeen, closes on Monday, while a consultation on Rosebank, north-west of Shetland, closes a week later.
Russell Borthwick, Chief Executive of Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, said: “Today marks the end of the Jackdaw consultation, and it should also mark the end of the uncertainty surrounding the UK oil and gas sector.
“The case for approval is overwhelming. Britain still needs gas, our domestic production is falling faster than demand, and Jackdaw alone could provide more than 6 per cent of UK gas supply at peak production – enough to meet the annual heating needs of 1.4 million homes.
“If we choose not to produce that gas here, we will simply import more from overseas. Increasing our reliance on LNG - which compared with Jackdaw come with emissions that are eight times higher - makes no economic, environmental or strategic sense.
“Jackdaw will support skilled British jobs, tax revenues and strategically important North Sea infrastructure while strengthening our energy security. And it can do all of that while we continue to accelerate the build-out of renewables.
“Billions of pounds have already been committed to Jackdaw and Rosebank. Investors, workers and communities across the North-east are now looking to government for a clear signal that Britain is serious about its energy security and its industrial future.
“It is time to end the madness of turning our backs on our own energy while paying other countries to produce it for us – at greater cost to our economy, our energy security and the planet. Approve Jackdaw, back British jobs and investment, and let’s start producing more of the energy we need here at home.”
Some Scottish Labour MPs back both projects.
Dunfermline and Dollar MP Graeme Downie said the UK should “manage the decline of the North Sea in a way that protects workers, supports communities and builds the industries that will power Britain’s future”.
He added: “If we do not proceed with Jackdaw and Rosebank, investment will leave the UK, jobs will disappear and expertise will be lost.“We also risk shattering the foundations of our industry and destroying the very skills we need to deliver a low-carbon future for the UK and lead the world on new technology and expertise.”
It comes as environmental groups have urged the PM to refuse permission for Rosebank and Jackdaw.
Lang Banks, director of WWF Scotland, said there was “a clear choice to be made by our politicians: further fuel climate chaos, or support a fair transition to a safer future”.
Pointing to “a summer of extreme heat and devastating wildfires”, including near Aberdeen, Mr Banks said it would be “irresponsible to approve new oil and gas developments that would accelerate climate change and do nothing to lower the energy bills of UK households”.
Other environmental groups have argued that the small amount of oil and gas left in Britain’s North Sea holdings would make little difference to either prices, which are set internationally, or energy security, while increasing carbon emissions.
Ami McCarthy, head of politics at Greenpeace UK, said: “Trying to squeeze the last few drops of expensive oil and gas out of the North Sea while the world is reeling from climate impacts is beyond ridiculous.
“The Government should hold fast on their no new oil and gas commitment. We need true investment in the clean energy industries of the future, which are our only dependable path to good jobs, lower bills, and long-term prosperity.”
A UK Government spokesperson said: “The North Sea remains a vital national asset, supporting jobs, growth and the UK’s energy security.
“We are clear that oil and gas will continue to play an important role in our energy system for decades to come, alongside renewables, nuclear and other low-carbon technologies.
“Our focus is on providing stability and supporting North Sea workers and communities as they continue to make a vital contribution to the UK’s economy.”
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