A judicial review against the consent to develop the UK’s Rosebank oilfield and the Jackdaw gas field, has begun, reported the BBC.
The Court of Session in Edinburgh is set to hear a legal challenge against these developments.
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Environmental groups Greenpeace and Uplift have initiated the judicial review, seeking to halt the projects they consider detrimental to the environment.
Campaigners aim to halt the development of the Rosebank oilfield off Shetland and the Jackdaw gas field off Aberdeen, while oil companies argue that the projects are crucial.
Consent for drilling at Rosebank was granted by the North Sea Transition Authority in September 2023, while Shell‘s Jackdaw field proposal received approval in 2022 after an initial rejection.
The environmental groups contend that the emissions from the oil and gas produced by these fields were unlawfully overlooked in the decision-making process.
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By GlobalDataFollowing a Supreme Court ruling in June, the UK Government conceded that the consent decisions were unlawful.
However, the oil companies are focused on how to proceed with the projects, given that work has already commenced.
Greenpeace UK senior campaigner Philip Evans said: “Earlier this year, the Supreme Court made it crystal clear that the climate impact of emissions from burning fossil fuels must be assessed before any new oil and gas projects can be approved.
“It is these types of emissions that are causing the climate chaos we are seeing all over the world.”
Uplift executive director Tessa Khan said: “Rosebank is a terrible deal for Britain. It is mostly oil for export, which would do nothing to lower fuel costs or boost our energy security yet, because of huge tax breaks for new drilling, the UK public would effectively cover almost all of the costs of developing it while the oil companies walk off with the profits.”
On the other hand, Equinor and Ithaca Energy, the owners of the Rosebank field, have highlighted the job creation potential of the project, with 1,600 construction jobs and support for 450 long-term UK-based jobs.
Despite the legal challenges, Equinor is reportedly proceeding with the project, citing its significance for local investment and energy security.
Shell, which is developing the Jackdaw field, has emphasised its importance for the UK’s energy security, stating that the project will supply gas to 1.4 million homes.
Both the UK and Scottish governments have recognised the role of oil and gas in the energy transition but have refrained from commenting on the ongoing legal proceedings.
