First the United Kingdom rolled back some of its ‘net-zero’ commitments amid a pushback over affordability..Then on Wednesday, the government of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak poked another finger in the eye of environmental activists by approving the UK’s largest offshore oil development in years, citing ‘energy security’ as the reason..The Rosebank field, located west of the Shetland Islands, is estimated to contain more than 500 million barrels of recoverable oil. The Norwegian state oil company has committed US$3.9 billion for the first phase of the project, which could eventually cost more than $9 billion.. Rosebank oil fieldRosebank is west of the Shetland Islands Near Scotland. .First oil isn’t expected until 2027, but already environmentalists are furious. The Guardian newspaper called it a “moral obscenity” in an editorial while an opposition MP called it “the greatest act of environmental vandalism in my lifetime.”.Environmental campaigners, including Greta Thunberg, have voiced strong opposition to the development for almost 18 months..“Rosebank is a rip-off,” said Tessa Khan, executive director of campaign group Uplift and a climate lawyer. “It’s another case of the government allowing foreign companies to profit, while the costs are put on British people who worry about the world we are handing on to our children.”.“As we’ve heard repeatedly, our world can no longer sustain new oil and gas drilling. And when we’re witnessing scorching temperatures, wildfires, devastating flooding and heatwaves in our seas, it could not be clearer that this is a decision by the prime minister to add more fuel to the fire.”.But Conservative cabinet ministers defended the move, saying it would reduce the UK’s reliance on imports from repressive regimes and dictators such as Russia’s Vladimir Putin..The UK Government said Rosebank has been subject to extensive scrutiny by the regulators, including a detailed environmental impact assessment and public consultation period..“We are investing in our world-leading renewable energy but, as the independent Climate Change Committee recognize, we will need oil and gas as part of that mix on the path to net zero and so it makes sense to use our own supplies from North Sea fields such as Rosebank,” Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho said in announcing the decision..“The jobs and billions of pounds this is worth to our economy will enable us to have greater energy independence, making us more secure against tyrants like (Vladimir) Putin. We will continue to back the UK’s oil and gas industry to underpin our energy security, grow our economy and help us deliver the transition to cheaper, cleaner energy.”.For its part, Equinor said Rosebank would not increase the UK’s overall emissions and would be the first UK field to power its operations with renewable electricity. .“We acknowledge there is public debate about our Rosebank oil and gas field in the UK, and we respect the differing views. Nevertheless, we believe there are sound and rational reasons for developing Rosebank,” it said on its web site.
