British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has indicated his government will not block the Rosebank oil and gas field after a court overturned its approval, sending the decision back to ministers. The ruling comes despite Labour’s pledge not to issue new oil and gas exploration licences.
While Starmer’s government has committed to halting new licences over climate concerns, it has maintained that existing approvals will not be revoked.
The future of Shell’s Jackdaw project and Equinor’s Rosebank development was cast into doubt after a court ruled in favour of climate campaigners, challenging their approvals. However, Starmer suggested his government would not intervene.
“I can’t pre-empt the decision, but we did say that where a licence had already been granted, we wouldn’t interfere,” he told ‘Sky News’ on Thursday. “I’ll be open with you—oil and gas will remain part of the energy mix for decades to come.” Equinor and Ithaca Energy, its project partner, are seeking to develop Rosebank, one of the UK’s last major untapped oil reserves. The project has become a flashpoint in the debate over fossil fuel expansion, drawing criticism from climate activists who argue it undermines efforts to phase out fossil fuels.
