UK stops defending North Sea oil licenses

The UK is dropping its defense of the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil licenses in the North Sea, while maintaining its existing permits. This decision reflects a strategic shift against a backdrop of energy transition.

Partagez:

The British government has announced that it will no longer defend the development permits for the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil fields in the North Sea.
These fields, among the country’s largest as yet undeveloped, are under legal challenge from Greenpeace and Uplift, who criticize the climate impacts of their exploitation.
However, London is maintaining the authorizations granted by the previous Conservative government, respecting its commitment not to revoke current licenses.
This change of stance comes after the recent UK Supreme Court ruling on the Horse Hill drilling project, which was found not to comply with obligations to take carbon emissions into account.
The government appears to be adopting a cautious approach, balancing the economic interests of the oil industry with regulatory and environmental compliance requirements.

Impact on North Sea operators

The companies involved in these projects, such as Equinor and Shell, now find themselves alone in defending their positions before the courts.
This withdrawal of government support does not cancel the licenses, but it does change the framework in which these players operate.
The oil industry, already faced with increasingly stringent regulations, sees this as a reaffirmation of the complexity of the legal and environmental challenges ahead.
Operators now need to strengthen their case for compliance with current standards, while continuing to demonstrate the profitability of their investments.
Against this backdrop, managing the risks associated with regulatory developments becomes paramount to maintaining viable operating strategies.
The UK decision underlines the importance of increased flexibility in the face of a changing legal framework.

A changing energy policy

The decision to stop defending existing licenses reflects a new direction for the Labour government.
Maintaining oil and gas production in the North Sea is seen as a lever for ensuring national energy security in the medium term.
Nevertheless, the government continues to focus on the development of renewable energies, without ignoring the role of the oil and gas sector in this period of transition.
The absence of new exploration licenses, combined with the non-revocation of existing permits, demonstrates a desire to minimize economic disruption while gradually aligning with international climate commitments.
This hybrid approach aims to stabilize the investment environment while preparing for an energy future dominated by less carbon-intensive sources.

Implications for future regulation

This shift in UK energy policy could prompt other jurisdictions to reconsider their own regulatory frameworks.
Legal precedents set by the UK courts, notably the Supreme Court’s ruling on the requirement to include indirect emissions in impact assessments, could influence energy legislation beyond the UK.
Companies operating in highly regulated environments now need to integrate these factors into their strategic planning.
This climate of regulatory uncertainty could also stimulate investment in less controversial technologies or long-term emissions reduction initiatives.

The European Commission will extend until the end of 2030 an expanded state-aid framework, allowing capitals to fund low-carbon technologies and nuclear power to preserve competitiveness against China and the United States.
Japan's grid operator forecasts an energy shortfall of up to 89 GW by 2050 due to rising demand from semiconductor manufacturing, electric vehicles, and artificial intelligence technologies.
Energy-intensive European industries will be eligible for temporary state aid to mitigate high electricity prices, according to a new regulatory framework proposed by the European Commission under the "Clean Industrial Deal."
Mauritius seeks international investors to swiftly build a floating power plant of around 100 MW, aiming to secure the national energy supply by January 2026 and address current production shortfalls.
Madrid announces immediate energy storage measures while Lisbon secures its electrical grid, responding to the historic outage that affected the entire Iberian Peninsula in late April.
Indonesia has unveiled its new national energy plan, projecting an increase of 69.5 GW in electricity capacity over ten years, largely funded by independent producers, to address rapidly rising domestic demand.
French Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher condemns the parliamentary moratorium on new renewable energy installations, warning of the potential loss of 150,000 industrial jobs and increased energy dependence on foreign countries.
The European battery regulation, fully effective from August 18, significantly alters industrial requirements related to electric cars and bicycles, imposing strict rules on recycling, supply chains, and transparency for companies.
The European Parliament calls on the Commission to strengthen energy infrastructure and accelerate the implementation of the Clean Industrial Deal to enhance the continent's energy flexibility and security amid increased market volatility.
The European Commission unveils an ambitious plan to modernize electricity grids and introduces the Clean Industrial Deal, mobilizing hundreds of billions of euros to strengthen the continent's industrial and energy autonomy.
In the United States, regulated electric grid operators hold a decisive advantage in connecting new data centres to the grid, now representing 134 GW of projects, according to a Wood Mackenzie report published on June 19.
The French National Assembly approves a specific target of 200 TWh renewable electricity production by 2030 within a legislative text extensively debated about the future national energy mix.
In 2024, US CO₂ emissions remain stable at 5.1bn tonnes, as the Trump administration prepares hydrocarbon-friendly energy policies, raising questions about the future evolution of the American market.
The early publication of France's energy decree triggers strong parliamentary reactions, as the government aims to rapidly secure investments in nuclear and other energy sectors.
Seven weeks after the major Iberian power outage, Spain identifies technical network failures, while the European Investment Bank approves major funding to strengthen the interconnection with France.
The European Union has announced a detailed schedule aiming to definitively halt Russian gas imports by the end of 2027, anticipating internal legal and commercial challenges to overcome.
Madagascar plans the imminent opening of a 105 MW thermal power plant to swiftly stabilise its electricity grid, severely affected in major urban areas, while simultaneously developing renewable energy projects.
India's Central Electricity Regulatory Commission proposes a new financial instrument enabling industrial companies to meet renewable energy targets through virtual contracts, without physical electricity delivery, thus facilitating compliance management.
Minister Marc Ferracci confirms the imminent publication of the energy programming decree, without waiting for the conclusion of parliamentary debates, including a substantial increase in Energy Efficiency Certificates.
At a conference held on June 11, Brussels reaffirmed its goal to reduce energy costs for households and businesses by relying on targeted investments and greater consumer involvement.