A clear division has surfaced within the UK government over the future of the Rosebank oilfield in the North Sea. Chancellor John Healey has signalled his support for the controversial drilling proposal, while responsibility for the formal decision lies with Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh.
According to reporting last week in the Guardian, Fahnbulleh is leaning towards rejecting permission for Rosebank. That stance comes after she approved development of the smaller Jackdaw gasfield, illustrating differing assessments of separate North Sea projects within the same administration.
The emerging split highlights the political sensitivity of decisions on domestic oil and gas projects, which intersect with questions of energy security, economic interest and wider government policy priorities. Ministers across Whitehall are said to hold varying views on how to balance those competing considerations, with Rosebank proving particularly contentious.
For now, the final call rests with the energy secretary, whose judgment will determine whether the Rosebank proposal moves forward. The disagreement between a senior Treasury figure and the energy department underscores the challenge facing the government as it seeks to present a coherent position on the UK’s offshore energy developments.