12th Nov 2024 05:54
(Alliance News) - Two environmental groups are set to have their legal challenge against the Rosebank and Jackdaw offshore oil and gas fields in the North Sea heard in court on Tuesday.
Greenpeace UK and Uplift will argue the impact of emissions from burning the oil and gas extracted from the fields were illegally ignored when they were approved in the Court of Session in Edinburgh.
They believe burning oil and gas from the fields is both illegal and unsafe, and that the Rosebank development will damage a protected area in the North Sea and its marine life.
The UK government has said it will not challenge judicial reviews brought against Rosebank and Jackdaw to save taxpayer money.
Jackdaw is owned by Shell PLC, via BG International Ltd. Rosebank is 80%-owned by Equinor ASA, with Ithaca Energy PLC owning 20%.
Mel Evans, Greenpeace UK's climate team leader, previously said: "We will continue to fight the corporate greed of fossil fuel companies like Equinor, Shell and Ithaca, and we look forward to our day in court."
The Rosebank oil field is west of Shetland and holds fossil fuels equivalent to about 500 million barrels of oil, according to Uplift.
The organisation says 90% of its reserves are oil and the remainder is gas, and that burning all of it would amount to 200 million tonnes of CO2.
Tessa Khan, executive director of Uplift, previously said: "This case is about protecting ourselves against the worsening climate crisis and putting an end to oil and gas industry profiteering."
A spokesperson for Shell said previously: "From the outset, Jackdaw has been developed in line with all relevant consents and permits.
"At the substantive hearing of the judicial review in November, Shell will argue that those existing consents to develop Jackdaw should remain in place.
"We accept the Supreme Court's ruling in the Finch case, but will argue that Jackdaw is a vital project for UK energy security that is already well under way."
A spokesperson for Equinor said previously: "Equinor – in principle – does not comment on ongoing litigation.
"Equinor welcomed regulatory approvals for the Rosebank development in 2023 and will continue to work closely with all relevant parties to progress the project.
"It is vital for the UK and will bring benefits in terms of local investment, jobs and energy security."
The case is expected to be heard starting at 11am on Tuesday.
Ithaca has been contacted for comment.
source: PA
Copyright 2024 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.