New UK gas and oil projects are a ‘no-brainer’, says EDF boss
News Source
•Wed, 30 Sep 2026 16:24:53 GMT
📰 What Happened
The head of EDF Energy, Simone Rossi, says new UK oil and gas projects are a no-brainer. He wants ministers to approve the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields. Rossi says UK fuels produce lower emissions than imports, and that the projects create jobs and tax income. He still backs heat pumps and electric cars over time. The government will decide on the two fields within weeks.
🔍 The Backstory
EDF Energy makes about a fifth of the UK's low-carbon power and is building the Hinkley Point C nuclear plant. Other green leaders, such as the founder of Octopus Energy, have also backed some North Sea drilling. The Labour party's manifesto allowed new flows from already-licensed areas. Activists want Rosebank and Jackdaw blocked after a summer of heatwaves.
🎯 Why It Matters
Energy decisions affect bills, jobs and the climate. If new fields go ahead, they could ease supply worries and support workers, but they may also slow the shift away from the fuels that harm the planet.
The head of EDF Energy, Simone Rossi, says new UK oil and gas projects are a no-brainer. He wants ministers to approve the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields. Rossi says UK fuels produce lower emissions than imports, and that the projects create jobs and tax income. He still backs heat pumps and electric cars over time. The government will decide on the two fields within weeks.
EDF Energy makes about a fifth of the UK's low-carbon power and is building the Hinkley Point C nuclear plant. Other green leaders, such as the founder of Octopus Energy, have also backed some North Sea drilling. The Labour party's manifesto allowed new flows from already-licensed areas. Activists want Rosebank and Jackdaw blocked after a summer of heatwaves.
Energy decisions affect bills, jobs and the climate. If new fields go ahead, they could ease supply worries and support workers, but they may also slow the shift away from the fuels that harm the planet.