Burnham complains Jackdaw and Rosebank approval delayed by ‘government process’

Approval for drilling at North Sea sites Jackdaw and Rosebank has been delayed due to bureaucratic delays and government process, according to Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Burnham pledged a pragmatic approach to oil and gas drilling, responding to pressure from energy industry representatives who argued for the projects' approval.

Scottish courts blocked the drilling in 2024 on environmental grounds, and the energy secretary, Miatta Fahnbulleh, is anticipated to make a decision on the drilling permits within weeks. Consultations on drilling at the sites concluded in August, with Fahnbulleh needing to weigh potential economic benefits against environmental obligations.

Both the Rosebank oil field and Jackdaw gas field had previously been approved by the Conservative government, but Labour had vowed against new oil and gas licences during their 2024 election campaign. Former Prime Minister Kemi Badenoch pressed Burnham to "stop faffing about" and allow the drilling to proceed. Burnham emphasized that the previous government's mishandling of the process necessitated a more streamlined approach.

Equinor CEO Anders Opedal warned that the delays could damage the UK's appeal to investors, stating that the government's claim of openness to business was undermined by the repeated rejections. Adura, the joint venture between Shell and Equinor, estimated that the two projects could add £35 billion to the UK economy between 2026 and 2035 and generate £12.1 billion in additional tax revenues over the next decade.