North Sea

Equinor makes gas discovery in North Sea

The Guardian view on Tory economics: Britain’s future needs more than Thatcher’s past | Editorial

The Conservatives blame their failures on abandoning their 1976 principles. But the country needs investment and resilience rather than another round of spending cuts The Conservative party wants to go back to the future under Kemi Badenoch. In her foundational text, The Right Way , released at the weekend, the Tory party leader makes its intellectual lineage explicit, repeatedly invoking Margaret Thatcher’s 1976 policy statement The Right Approach . The 2026 economic framework is familiar: only private enterprise creates wealth; taxes, regulation and spending can obstruct growth and competition; markets make the country stronger. The speech by her shadow chancellor, Andrew Griffith, made it clear that Conservative failures over its 14-year spell in charge were the result of the party straying from Thatcherite principles. One might argue that, on the contrary, errors were because the party slavishly followed such a creed. When Rough, a depleted North Sea gasfield that once provided around 70% of the UK’s gas-storage capacity, was judged uneconomic by its private owner, a Conservative government in 2017 accepted that international markets could provide the UK with adequate energy security. That proved to be a big mistake when Russia invaded Ukraine, sending fossil fuel prices upwards. Britain was particularly exposed as a net energy importer and highly dependent on gas. Tory ministers had to bring back Rough into operation in 2022. Mrs Badenoch puts its closure down to “ false economies ”. But what was wrong was putting private profitability ahead of the country’s needs. Continue reading...

Oct 5, 2026 · byThe Guardian

Apache workers back strike that could disrupt North Sea Forties oil pipeline, union says

Strikes by North Sea oil workers could ‘severely disrupt’ UK fuel supplies

Union says staff left with no choice but industrial action after breakdown in pay talks with Texas oil firm Apache A looming strike by oil workers in the North Sea could “severely disrupt” UK fuel supplies, the Unite union has said, adding that staff were left with no choice after a breakdown in pay talks with the Texas oil company Apache. The union said Apache workers had “emphatically” backed strike action after being given what it said was an unacceptable pay offer that amounted to a real-terms pay cut for many employees, at a time when the company was “raking in eye-watering profits”. Continue reading...

Oct 4, 2026 · byThe Guardian

I travelled all over the country on a €63 monthly rail pass: readers favourite holidays in Germany

From cycling in Berlin and the Black Forest to world-class cocktail bars in Cologne and magical North Sea beaches, readers share their travel tips • Tell us about a sunny autumn break – the best tip wins a £200 holiday voucher In an often overlooked corner of Germany, near the Dutch border, Münster is an absolute gem. Covered porticos will convince you you’re in northern Italy, gothic churches will remind you you’re in Mitteleuropa and the buns from Zeit für Brot will insist you’re in heaven. Nature-lovers can take in the Botanical Gardens and relax by the Münstersche Aa river. Those of a historical bent can peek into the room where the Treaty of Westphalia was signed in 1648 and mull the report card of nation states in the nearly 400 years since. But really, it’s a great place just to drop-anchor and lose a few days. Jeremy Continue reading...

Oct 2, 2026 · byThe Guardian

Burnham Promises “Pragmatic” North Sea Approach

Andy Burnham promised to be “pragmatic” about drilling in the North Sea in his conference speech. Those in Aberdeen say there’s not a moment to lose. Bedecked in her obligatory high-vis jacket and surrounded by hardhard-wearing oil and gas workers, Miatta Fanbulleh’s first ministerial trip was a striking piece of political symbolism. Just three days on from being named Andy Burnham’s energy secretary, the former think tank chief had managed achieved something that took her predecessor Ed Miliband more than four months:…

Oct 1, 2026 · byOilPrice.com

New UK gas and oil projects are a ‘no-brainer’, says EDF boss

Developing North Sea fields does not contradict net zero goals, according to Simone Rossi New oil and gas projects are a “no-brainer” that pose “no contradiction” to the net zero agenda, according to the head of EDF Energy. Simone Rossi has joined a string of renewables leaders in making the case for more North Sea production as the government prepares to decide on two projects there. Continue reading...

Sep 30, 2026 · byThe Guardian

North Sea, Nature Untamed review – stunning footage finds the beauty and splendour under the water

Diver Peter van Rodijnen’s footage of basking whales, plankton blooms and fatherly fish disputes the idea that the North Sea is a bleak wilderness The North Sea, with its cold grey waters, is the world’s drabbest. Or so you might have thought, but this documentary featuring the Dutch diver and underwater cinematographer Peter van Rodijnen sets out to tackle the misconceptions. His stunning footage puts all the splendours of this stormy stretch of water on show, and his voiceover gives it an endearing eccentric charm. First, the greyness. Van Rodijnen films the North Sea’s waves sparkling with the cosmic blue light of bioluminescent algae, and lit up with the disco colours of coral and plankton blooms. He also brings us cute, coo-worthy stories from the depths; take the male shorthorn sculpin fish (no looker, it must be said) who spends the winter looking after his eggs, cleaning and blowing fresh water over them. Van Rodijnen’s camera is there for the baby fish hatching – pop, pop, pop out of their pearly plump pink eggs. There are some quirky stories, too, including a barnacle with a superlong penis. Continue reading...

Sep 23, 2026 · byThe Guardian

Andy Burnham: UK must fully commit to reaching net zero by 2050

Exclusive: PM, who is facing pressure over whether to approve North Sea oil and gasfields, makes strongest comments yet on issue British people understand the climate crisis threat. Today I’m empowering them to tackle it UK politics live – latest updates The UK must fully commit to reaching net zero by 2050, Andy Burnham has argued in his strongest comments yet on the issue, saying it is no longer possible for Britons to believe they are not already affected by a changing climate. Writing for the Guardian about new plans for a mass of community-led local green energy projects, the prime minister said the UK must “believe in itself”, and set out his determination to reach net zero targets, which have been rejected by the Conservatives and Reform UK. Continue reading...

Sep 17, 2026 · byThe Guardian

Scrap windfall tax on oil and gas firms early, North Sea industry urges

Labour should replace levy in 2027 rather than 2030 as energy bills are poised to surge over the winter, says lobby group The North Sea oil and gas industry has called on Labour to scrap the windfall tax on fossil fuel firms three years early, as Britain heads into a winter with energy bills expected to reach their highest level since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Offshore Energies UK (OEUK), the industry’s trade body, wants the tax replaced in 2027, rather than in 2030, with a narrower levy that only applies during price spikes. Continue reading...

Sep 15, 2026 · byThe Guardian

North Sea gasfield decision likely delayed until after Holborn and St Pancras byelection

Greens accuse Labour of hiding position to avoid criticism before contest, in which Zack Polanski is standing A decision on approving the controversial Jackdaw gasfield in the North Sea is to be delayed until later this autumn, with the Greens accusing Labour of hiding their position before the crucial Holborn and St Pancras byelection. Miatta Fahnbulleh, the energy secretary, had been poised to give her recommendation to approve the Jackdaw field off the coast of Aberdeen next week . Continue reading...

Sep 11, 2026 · byThe Guardian

North Sea gasfield decision likely delayed until after Holborn and St Pancras byelection

Greens accuse Labour of hiding position to avoid criticism before contest, in which Zack Polanski is standing A decision on approving the controversial Jackdaw gasfield in the North Sea is to be delayed until later this autumn, with the Greens accusing Labour of hiding their position before the crucial Holborn and St Pancras byelection. Miatta Fahnbulleh, the energy secretary, had been poised to give her recommendation to approve the Jackdaw field off the coast of Aberdeen next week . Continue reading...

Sep 11, 2026 · byThe Guardian

North Sea gasfield decision likely delayed until after Holborn byelection

Greens accuse Labour of hiding approval recommendation to avoid controversy ahead of key ballot A decision on approving the controversial Jackdaw gasfield in the North Sea is to be delayed until later this autumn, with the Greens accusing Labour of hiding their position before the crucial Holborn byelection. Miatta Fahnbulleh, the energy secretary, had been poised to give her recommendation to approve the Jackdaw field off the coast of Aberdeen next week . Continue reading...

Sep 11, 2026 · byThe Guardian

Is Burnham trying to appease Trump? Or Reform? What other reason is there for these North Sea oil plans? | George Monbiot

Climate catastrophe is on our doorstep – yet Labour’s impending approval of further drilling will bring more pain for negligible gains Pinch yourself, it’s happening again. Here is a Labour government spending a vast amount of political capital to earn tiny material gains while risking huge political losses. It occurred repeatedly under Keir Starmer, and now – with the impending decision to approve further gas and oil drilling in the North Sea – it is happening under Andy Burnham. You rack your brains to explain it, but no rational explanation comes. Burnham is studiously cryptic about his reasons. His clearest statement to date goes as follows: “There is a resource there. When people are struggling, we can’t ignore that.” Does he mean that oil and gas workers are struggling? If so, this decision will be of little use to them. The Jackdaw gasfield, likely to be approved this week, will generate a grand total of 27 direct full-time jobs . The Rosebank oilfield, whose approval is likely to follow soon, will support 450 UK-based jobs during its lifetime. Yet the UK’s net zero economy directly employs 300,000 people , and a further 400,000 jobs are planned. The rest of the green economy employs more than 600,000 . A just transition for fossil fuel workers, securing jobs in the green economy, is better for everyone. George Monbiot is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...

Sep 10, 2026 · byThe Guardian

Is Burnham trying to appease Trump? Or Reform? What other reason is there for these North Sea oil plans? | George Monbiot

Climate catastrophe is on our doorstep – yet Labour’s impending approval of further drilling will bring more pain for negligible gains Pinch yourself, it’s happening again. Here is a Labour government spending a vast amount of political capital to earn tiny material gains while risking huge political losses. It occurred repeatedly under Keir Starmer, and now – with the impending decision to approve further gas and oil drilling in the North Sea – it is happening under Andy Burnham. You rack your brains to explain it, but no rational explanation comes. Burnham is studiously cryptic about his reasons. His clearest statement to date goes as follows: “There is a resource there. When people are struggling, we can’t ignore that.” Does he mean that oil and gas workers are struggling? If so, this decision will be of little use to them. The Jackdaw gasfield, likely to be approved this week, will generate a grand total of 27 direct full-time jobs . The Rosebank oilfield, whose approval is likely to follow soon, will support 450 UK-based jobs during its lifetime. Yet the UK’s net zero economy directly employs 300,000 people , and a further 400,000 jobs are planned. The rest of the green economy employs more than 600,000 . A just transition for fossil fuel workers, securing jobs in the green economy, is better for everyone. George Monbiot is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...

Sep 10, 2026 · byThe Guardian

BP Sells North Sea Oil Business as UK PM Eyes New Drilling

BP is selling its North Sea oil business as PM Andy Burnham signals a more pragmatic stance on UK drilling policy. The post BP Sells North Sea Oil Business as UK PM Eyes New Drilling appeared first on BeInCrypto .

Aug 3, 2026 · byBeInCrypto

BP puts UK North Sea oil and gas assets up for sale after 60 years of production

BP's exit from the UK North Sea highlights the impact of high taxes on energy investments, potentially deterring future large-scale operations. The post BP puts UK North Sea oil and gas assets up for sale after 60 years of production appeared first on Crypto Briefing .

Jul 31, 2026 · byCryptoBriefing

Trump Declares Starmer Will Resign, Blames North Sea Oil Ban

Trump declared Keir Starmer will resign as UK PM, citing his North Sea oil ban as the UK faces a 13% energy price hike. The post Trump Declares Starmer Will Resign, Blames North Sea Oil Ban appeared first on BeInCrypto .

Jun 22, 2026 · byBeInCrypto