What are the arguments for and against drilling in the North Sea?
Lots of people have been voicing opinions on the plans
- Published
Beneath the sea around the UK, there are some untapped supplies of oil and natural gas.
Both are fossil fuels which can be used for things like heating homes or making electricity.
Plans to drill on two different sites, called Rosebank and Jackdaw, are currently being looked at and the government will have to decide if they should go ahead.
Supporters say it would provide lots of jobs, energy and money for the UK but others worry about the impact on the environment and climate change.
Read on to find out more about it and who is for and against the idea...
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Where and what are Jackdaw and Rosebank?
Jackdaw, near Aberdeen, is a gas field which its operators say could be connected to the UK network within months.
Rosebank, near Shetland, is Britain's largest oil field which hasn't been used yet.
Both projects were approved by the previous Conservative UK government, but environmental groups challenged the decisions in court.
A judge ruled that the climate impact of burning the oil and gas from the sites had not properly considered.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham's government must decide what to do
The companies provided updated information and it was put out for public consultation, meaning people and organisations were given a chance to share their views on it.
So now, the UK government will decide whether or not to give the plans the go ahead.
We don't know yet when that decision will be made.
What are the arguments for drilling in the North Sea?
Donald Trump has voiced his support for the UK drilling in the North Sea
Cost of living: Supporters say producing oil and gas in the UK could help provide more affordable fuel as this could be a more secure energy supply and there wouldn't be a need to buy as much fuel from other countries.
Jobs: Lots of jobs could be created by the plans.
Money for the UK economy: Oil and gas companies pay taxes and spend money on workers and businesses which could help the UK economy.
Energy security: Events like the war in Ukraine and tensions around important shipping routes like the Strait of Hormuz have shown how quickly fuel prices can rise and energy supplies can be interrupted by events across the world. Some people think the UK drilling themselves could help the energy supply to be more secure.
Who has voiced support?
US President Donald Trump said the UK should be making use of the North Sea to stop it having to buy fuel from other countries.
And the boss of a huge oil company Adura says fossil fuels will be needed for years to come and that using the reserves in the North Sea will make lots of money for the UK.
What are the arguments against drilling in the North Sea?
People have also been voicing concerns about the drilling
Climate Change: Burning oil and gas releases greenhouse gases, which contribute to climate change. Environmental groups argue that developing new fields like Rosebank or Jackdaw would put more carbon into the atmosphere and make climate change worse.
Move to renewable energy: Critics say money and efforts should be put into cleaner energy like wind or solar power.
Paris Agreement/environmental impact: The UK promised under the Paris Agreement to help limit global warming to 1.5C above pre industrial levels. It's a pact many countries made to help tackle climate change. Some people argue that approving new oil and gas fields makes reaching environmental targets more difficult.
Will it actually make fuel cheaper?: Critics point out that oil and gas prices are linked to the global market so producing more in the UK doesn't automatically mean cheaper energy prices for UK households.
Labour's promise: The Labour party previously said it would not issue new licenses for drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea but it can honour existing agreements.
Who is against the drilling?
The environmental campaign group Uplift, which was behind the successful legal challenge to the first plans, argues that recent extreme heatwaves and wildfires are evidence that more drilling will "wreck the planet".
Greenpeace UK's chief scientist said opening a new field was "wholly incompatible" with the Paris Agreement.
Miatta Fahnbulleh is the energy secretary for the government
What do UK politicians think?
Different political parties have different opinions.
A government spokeperson said the North Sea is vital for supporting jobs, growth and the UK's energy security and they said that "oil and gas will continue to play an important role in our energy system for decades to come".
But that's alongside moving "to clean power to protect jobs and tackle the climate crisis".
The Scottish government also supports moves towards renewable energy whilst recognising the importance of North Sea workers and communities.
