UK Government declines to fight Rosebank challenge 'to save money'

The UK Government has said it will not fight a legal challenge to the Rosebank oil field "to save taxpayers’ money".

Campaigners brought judicial reviews against the North Sea fossil fuel fields Rosebank and Jackdaw, which lie off Shetland and Aberdeen.

Permissions were granted by the previous UK Government and campaigners at Greenpeace and Uplift went to the courts in a bid to prevent drilling.

The new Labour-led UK Government has said it will not contest the court's decision.

Licences for Jackdaw and Rosebank have not been withdrawn and the move comes after the Supreme Court ruled that the environmental impact of the use of newly produced fossil fuels should have been assessed.

Energy minister Michael Shanks said: "This government is committed to making Britain a clean energy superpower, helping to meet our first mission to kick-start economic growth.

"While we make that transition the oil and gas industry will play an important role in the economy for decades to come.

"As we support the North Sea’s clean energy future, this government is committed to protecting current and future generations of good jobs as we do so.

"We were elected with a mandate to deliver stability, certainty and growth. Every action we take will be in pursuit of that.

"We will consult at pace on new guidance that takes into account the Supreme Court’s ruling on Environmental Impact Assessments, to enable the industry to plan, secure jobs, and invest in our economy.”

Licences for Jackdaw and Rosebank have not been withdrawn.

The Rosebank oil field is the UK’s largest untapped oil field and is estimated to contain up to 300m barrels of oil. Production at the Jackdaw gas condensate field is expected to start next year.

Uplift director Tessa Khan Tessa Khan said the government has made a "common sense" decision.

Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie commented: "This is an important decision by the UK Government, but the fact that this is a response to legal action by campaigners demonstrates yet again the need for a strong Green movement to challenge both the fossil fuel industry and its apologists in government.

"We are in a climate emergency, and nothing could be more damaging than offering up even more of our North Sea to oil and gas giants. 

"Rosebank and Jackdaw would be catastrophic for our climate. They would pollute our planet and do nothing to lower the punishing bills that are inflicting so much misery on households and families across the country."