Fahnbulleh reportedly leans toward rejecting Rosebank

Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh is reportedly leaning toward rejecting the Rosebank oilfield, but has not made a final decision. The UK government says reports of an impending rejection are speculation and that the application will be assessed on its own merits. Officials briefed that Fahnbulleh was minded to refuse consent for the project, one of the largest undeveloped fields in the North Sea. A decision is expected later in 2026, according to the reporting. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said the secretary had not announced an outcome. Fahnbulleh has distinguished Rosebank from the Jackdaw gasfield, which the government approved on Wednesday. She said Jackdaw’s gas is intended for the domestic market, while Rosebank’s oil output would be mainly exported. She has said applications should be considered individually and decisions must be consistent with the UK’s climate obligations and carbon budgets. The reported case for rejecting Rosebank also rests on the view that it would contribute less directly to UK energy security because most of its oil would be exported. The field is reported to produce about seven times Jackdaw’s carbon emissions. Those...