Miatta Fahnbulleh's first official trip to Aberdeen has drawn accusations of avoiding public scrutiny. The new Energy Secretary met with North Sea industry leaders but declined to hold any press briefings or issue formal statements.
The shadow of the Rosebank and Jackdaw projects
The future of North Sea energy production hinges on the regulatory decision regarding the Rosebank and Jackdaw projects. These specific fields, which were supported by the previous administration, have the capacity to supply 10% of the United Kingdom's energy requirements. However, as the source reports, they have faced significant delays due to various legal challenges and reassessments.
Miatta Fahnbulleh's personal history with fossil fuel development adds a layer of complexity to these upcoming decisions.. The Energy Secretary has a documented record of opposing new oil and gas fields, including a 2022 social media post where she argued that avoiding new developments is essential to meeting 1.5C global warming targets. This history puts her at odds with industry leaders who view these projects as vital for national energy security.
The 78% windfall tax and the threat to 1,000 jobs
Economic concerns regarding the 78% windfall tax on energy compannies have become a central pillar of the political backlash in Scotland. The Scottish Tories, represented by Shadow Scottish Secretary Andrew Bowie, have characterized the Energy Secretary's visit as a "tick box exercise" designed to avoid direct confrontation. According to the report, political opponents claim that current Labour policies are contributing to the loss of approximately 1,000 jobs every month in the sector.
The SNP has also voiced strong opposition to the current trajectory of the Labour government's energy policy. SNP Aberdeen Central MSP Jack Middleton suggested that if the government truly wished to understand the impact of its decisions, the Energy Secretary should visit local job centers rather than meeting exclusively with executives. Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce chief executive Russell Borthwick has noted that approving projects like Rosebank would send a vital signal that the UK remains open to domestic energy investment.
DESNZ's defense of the media blackout
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has attempted to mitigate the criticism by explaining the lack of media engagement during the Aberdeen visit. A spokesperson for DESNZ stated that the decision to exclude the press was due to Ms.. Fahnbulleh having been appoitned only on Monday. This explanation aims to frame the trip as a preliminary fact-finding mission rather than a platform for major policy announcements.
Critics, however, have pointed to inconsistencies in this reasoning. While the department cites her recent appointment as the reason for the media absence,observers noted that Fahnbulleh had already participated in several television and radio interviews in London within 24 hours of taking her new role. this discrepancy has led to claims that the media exclusion was a deliberate attempt to avoid difficult questions regarding the Labour Party's drilling ban.
Will Rosebank and Jackdaw receive the green light?
Several critical questions remain unanswered following the Energy Secretary's quiet trip to Aberdeen. While oil industry leaders privately expect the Rosebank and Jackdaw projects to be approved, the official Labour manifesto remains committed to a ban on new drilling licenses. It is currently unknown whether the government will allow for the "change of emphasis" on North Sea projects that has been suggested by political figures like Andy Burnham.
The industry is also waiting to see if the government will move to scrap the energy profits levy to protect high-quality jobs, or if the current tax regime will remain a permanent fixture. Until the Energy Secretary provides a clear roadmap, the North Sea energy sector remains in a state of high-stakes uncertainty, caught between the demands of climate targets and the realities of domestic production.
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