Scottish government North Sea energy strategy revision

The Scottish government, led by the Scottish National Party (SNP), is preparing to revise its energy strategy to move away from a long-standing presumption against new oil and gas exploration in the North Sea. The updated policy, expected to be released by summer, will no longer approach new fields with an inherent opposition, though projects must still undergo reviews to ensure compliance with existing climate targets.

This shift follows an SNP resolution in Aberdeen suggesting that domestic production is preferable to imports. While the UK government retains primary licensing authority for projects such as the Jackdaw gas field and the Rosebank oil field, the Scottish government can exert significant political pressure through its strategic stance.

Scottish Labour has criticized the delay in finalizing the strategy, noting that a draft was originally released in January 2023. Energy spokesman Daniel Johnson described the delay as “ludicrous,” arguing that the lack of a finalized plan creates investment uncertainty for workers and businesses across the oil, gas, renewable, and nuclear energy sectors.