Campaigners opposing new offshore oil and gas drilling gathered outside the UK Department for Energy, Security & Net Zero to protest potential approvals for development in two North Sea sites. The demonstration focused on the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields, with activists warning that authorizing extraction there would contradict Labour’s election manifesto commitments on fossil fuel development.
The Rosebank field, located off the coast of Scotland, is the largest undeveloped oil and gas site in the UK. Reports indicate that Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh are reviewing whether to grant permission to resume drilling at Rosebank, where existing consent is due to expire in 2025. The government’s decision is being closely watched amid increasing scrutiny over climate targets and energy security.
Protesters affiliated with Fossil Free London dressed as firefighters and held placards bearing messages such as “Heat kills, Rosebank fuels it” and “World on fire,” highlighting concerns about the environmental impacts of expanding fossil fuel extraction. One placard displayed a social media post from former Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, who described Rosebank as a “colossal waste of taxpayer money and climate vandalism.”
Robin Wells, a spokesperson for Fossil Free London, criticized any move to approve new drilling as a “manifesto break,” emphasizing the contradiction of promising to halt new fossil fuel projects while potentially permitting one of the largest new fields. Wells suggested that Burnham faces significant pressure regarding the decision, reflecting broader political tensions between energy policy, economic considerations, and climate commitments.
The potential reopening of drilling at Rosebank comes as the UK balances efforts to ensure energy security following global market disruptions with its legally binding net zero targets for 2050. Government officials have yet to provide an official statement on the status of the Rosebank and Jackdaw projects. The outcome of this decision is expected to signal the government’s approach to managing North Sea resources amid competing priorities of sustainability and domestic energy supply.