The campaigners who fought to stop the Cambo oilfield have turned their attention to another North Sea development.
The Stop Cambo group announced yesterday that it would be fighting to halt Shell’s Jackdaw project from going ahead.
The field – which will supply 6.5% of Britain’s gas output – is 100% owned by the energy giant and is scheduled to start production in 2025.
However, opponents say the field will “do nothing” to reduce soaring energy costs for consumers and staged a demonstration at UK Government offices in Edinburgh yesterday.
Lauren MacDonald, a climate activist with the Stop Cambo campaign said: “Jackdaw will not lower bills, it will not provide energy security, and it will push us further towards an unlivable climate.”
Shell’s initial plan to develop the field was rejected on environmental grounds. It’s new plan is undergoing a 30-day public consultation period after which the Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED) will review it.
A final decision on its development could be taken within 3 months if no new obstacles arise.
The field has reserves of between 120 million and 250 million barrels of oil equivalent
The new plan changes the way Shell processes natural gas at the Shearwater hub.
Rather than removing all naturally-occurring CO2 from the gas offshore, some of it will be exported to the onshore St Fergus terminal where it will be further treated.
Endangering security
UK Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has accused Extinction Rebellion (XR) protesters of endangering the country's energy security and jobs after they also glued themselves to the Business Department in London.
25 demonstrators linked to the environmental group stuck themselves to the windows of the Whitehall building in anger at the UK Government's new energy security strategy.
The plan includes a fresh oil and gas licensing round to be launched in the autumn for North Sea projects.
Mr Kwarteng said: "My message to XR activists gluing themselves to my department: You cannot - and we won't - switch off domestic oil and gas production.
"Doing so would put energy security, jobs and industries at risk -- and would simply increase foreign imports, not reduce demand."
Mr Kwarteng has centred the UK's long-term strategy around developing offshore wind, solar and nuclear power, but as the energy crisis bites and the Government looks to wean the country off future imports from Russia he has decided to boost fossil fuel production as well.
XR also staged a protest outside Shell's London headquarters on Wednesday, with some activists gaining entry to the building and gluing themselves to the oil giant's reception desk.