North Sea oil and gas producers should accept the “challenge” of meeting climate targets and justifying the need for further fossil fuel production, Scotland’s energy secretary said.
A parliamentary committee has pressed the UK government to set a clear date for ending new oil and gas licensing rounds in a bid to show international climate leadership.
A north-east legal academic has branded the government’s climate checkpoint for new oil and gas licences as a “wave-through test” and a missed opportunity for the UK to show climate leadership.
It has been confirmed the upcoming offshore licensing round will kick off “early next month” after ministers gave long-awaited clarity about the UK’s climate compatibility checkpoint.
The North Sea Transition Authority’s (NSTA) latest strategy update suggests it plans to continue holding licence rounds in accordance with the government’s climate compatibility checkpoint.
The annual performance review for the UK’s oil and gas producers highlighted the potential of 33 new projects, targeting up to 1.3 billion barrels, as the UK looks to bolster energy security.
The UK’s offshore energy trade body says it supports half of the proposed checkpoint tests on new North Sea oil and gas licensing, but that the process ‘must be workable’ or risks damaging investment in the basin.
Climate Change Committee chief executive Chris Stark said the industry and regulator the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) could do more, sooner to reduce emissions if North Sea production is to continue.
In its advice to government, the UK's Climate Change Committee (CCC) said it supports ‘stringent’ tests on North Sea licensing as part of proposed climate compatibility checkpoints, but stopped short of recommending an end to exploration.
UK Energy Minister Greg Hands said North Sea oil and gas has a “good, solid” future ahead, and confirmed that the government will issue new licences this year.
A new report finds that new oil and gas licensing is not compatible with the UK’s climate commitments and targets set out by the Paris Agreement.
A new climate compatibility checkpoint is unlikely to impact on plans to develop a huge UK oilfield, according to the UK’s energy minister.