Following the government’s announcement that the Jackdaw gas field has been approved, many big figures in the industry have had their say.
Despite it being a fossil fuel source, renewable energy trade association RenewableUK have welcomed the decision.
Tara Singh, Chief Executive, said: “We support the North Sea and the people who work in it. Oil and gas will continue to play a role in our energy mix during the transition, and the North Sea provides job and tax revenue benefits as it does so.
“We also recognise that many of the skills, capabilities and companies supporting the UK oil and gas sector are also being used to build the clean power system of tomorrow – with more than a third of RenewableUK members today supporting both sectors.”
Scotland’s clean energy trade body, Scottish Renewables, has also welcomed the announcement but is pushing for more action on clean energy targets.
Angela Hepworth, CEO, said: “Scottish Renewables does not comment on individual oil and gas approvals. We do, however, recognise that global events have brought domestic energy production into sharper focus. Today’s decision must now be matched by a renewed drive to deliver our long-standing clean energy ambitions.”
Labour says this green light is expected to protect hundreds of jobs and pump £2.9 billion into the UK economy. Not-for-profit energy transition organisation ETZ Ltd says an approval of Rosebank is now the next step for further job protection.
Maggie McGinlay, Chief Executive, said: “We now need Government to approve Rosebank without delay, and to bring forward further projects that provide the pipeline of work our supply chain needs to sustain its workforce and investment through the transition.”
GMB Union have also pressed for the granted permission of Rosebank, while Octopus CEO, Greg Jackson, has claimed this approval isn’t protection against international threats.
He said: “This is good energy policy. Jackdaw will replace 20 ships a year of imported gas, with cleaner British gas that pays tax here and sustains jobs for longer. But it won’t bring prices down or provide much insulation against geopolitics and dictators.”
The decision comes as conflicts in the Middle East has caused a volatile energy market, raising questions over how much the UK should rely on imported fuel.
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