Scottish Greens have called on the UK Government to block development of the controversial Rosebank oil and gas field west of Shetland.
The Tories swiftly hit back at the party and its “reckless, uninformed obsession”.
And the SNP said there was little point in refusing new production if it simply encourages new energy imports, with potentially greater emissions.
‘Disaster waiting to happen’
Branding Rosebank a “climate disaster waiting to happen”, the Greens called on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to do “the right thing” and call time on the project.
Scottish Greens energy and environment spokesman Mark Ruskell MSP said Westminster’s support for the scheme, as well as its intention to award more than 100 new oil and gas exploration licences in the UK North Sea this year, showed an unwillingness to tackle climate change.
Mr Ruskell added: “We are already way past the point when we should have been moving away from oil and gas, yet Westminster is doubling down on it.
“2023 is a key year for our recovery and for our planet, and we cannot squander it.
“It must be a year of transition and change.
“Yet, with over 100 new climate-wrecking oil and gas exploration licences in the pipeline, and even a new coal mine in Cumbria, the UK Government has been utterly unwilling to take the climate action that is so badly needed.”
Labour MP has also asked for brakes to be put on Rosebank project
His comments echo those of Labour MP Dan Carden, who wrote to UK business secretary Grant Shapps in November urging him to reject the Rosebank project before it starts production.
Scottish Conservative north-east MSP Liam Kerr said: “Putin’s war in Ukraine has highlighted just how important it is for Britain to have energy security.
“We’ve got world-leading standards and an industry that is fully on board with a careful transition away from oil and gas.
Putin’s war in Ukraine has highlighted just how important it is for Britain to have energy security.”
Liam Kerr MSP.
“But the Scottish Greens aren’t really interested in energy transition – they just want to switch it all off now.
“That reckless, uninformed obsession puts tens of thousands of Scottish jobs at risk.
“Inflexible ideology won’t power homes and businesses struggling to keep the lights on.”
The UK Government has already agreed as part of the North Sea Transition Deal that future oil and gas developments must pass key climate checkpoints.
Gordon SNP MP Richard Thomson said: “On that basis, Rosebank should be considered on an equal footing to any other new development in terms of balancing energy need with climate change impact.
“There’s no point in closing off future exploration if it only leads to increased imports of oil and gas and potentially higher emissions elsewhere.”
Mr Thomson added: “The key to reducing reliance on oil and gas and effecting a successful transition to zero-at the present time is not to reduce the supply for oil and gas and hope alternatives can fill the resulting gap, but rather to shift demand towards renewable alternatives and to then be able to meet that demand.
“That means rapidly accelerating our progress on decarbonising transport, domestic heating and industry, and investing in those objectives accordingly.
“A just energy transition will only happen by stimulating demand for alternative energy sources and providing direct support for new technologies.”
Rosebank’s huge potential
As one of the UK’s largest untapped oilfields, output from Rosebank could account for the equivalent of around 8% of the UK’s oil demand by 2030.
Operator Equinor is expected to reach a crucial final investment decision on the 300 million barrel field later this year – and with it a promised £8.1 billion investment and more than 1,600 jobs.
But, as with the proposed Cambo development before it, the proposed development has become a lightning rod for environmental and political clashes.
Conversation