French energy giant wins legal battle to shut down North Sea oil fields
On Tuesday, Paris-based TotalEnergies won a High Court victory to close the Gryphon floating production platform which is anchored 200 miles north-east of Aberdeen.
Judges relied on Mr Miliband's net zero targets as justification to close the site, backing an original decision by the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA), which had been opposed by rival oil groups.
The Gryphon produced up to 2pc of UK oil and gas production, and its closure will mean 200 job losses with an estimated 9m barrels of known oil reserves left in the ground, plus £150m in lost tax revenue for the Treasury.
Total is cutting back operations in UK waters linked to Mr Miliband's crackdown on offshore oil and gas as well as the 78pc tax on offshore profits imposed by Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor.
Its decommissioning plans were originally approved by the NSTA partly because reduced oil and gas production would cut UK greenhouse gas emissions and so help achieve net zero.
However, they were strongly opposed by Nobel Upstream, which used the Gryphon to store output from two adjacent oil fields – and wanted Total to keep in use.
Nobel has now lost its judicial review of the NSTA's decision – opening the way for the Gryphon vessel to be removed and the underlying oil fields permanently decommissioned.
The judgment said: 'By taking account of the societal costs of carbon [emissions] the NSTA produced a more accurate assessment of the value to the UK of extracting the petroleum and so assisted the Secretary of State to achieve net zero because an emission-generating activity, the full societal cost of which outweighed its benefits, would not continue.'
Richard Tice, Reform UK's energy spokesman, said: 'This is a shocking, negligent decision by a judge overly focused on net zero.
'The consequence is the loss of hundreds of jobs, millions of barrels of oil and hundreds of millions worth of value to the UK economy.'
Claire Coutinho, the shadow energy secretary, said: 'We know we'll be needing oil and gas for decades to come so we should be making the most of our resources in the North Sea. '
A Nobel spokesman said the company was deeply disappointed and warned the case would set a precedent that could see many more such closures.
'This decision supporting the shutting in of some 12,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day of oil and gas production will only hasten the demise of the North Sea, where the tax and regulatory regimes are already punitive,' he said.
The Gryphon is a giant floating production, storage and offloading vessel over the Gryphon North and Gryphon South oil and gas fields.
It also receives output from two Nobel oil fields – the 'Maclure' and 'Ballindalloch' – with all its gas exported directly to the UK mainland, where it enters the national gas grid to support power stations and heat millions of homes.
Production was halted by Total earlier this year and the final closure decision marks the latest blow to the North Sea, which is in rapid decline amid the Government's retreat from oil and gas.
It comes after Donald Trump hit out at the UK's taxes on North Sea oil while in Scotland last month, saying the resource is a 'treasure chest' for the country.
Derek Thomson, Unite's Scottish secretary, said: 'Thousands of jobs in the oil and gas sector are under threat. The deep concern for Unite is that TotalEnergies' plan for the Gryphon remains premature and the judicial review's outcome could have a domino effect across the North Sea.'
Michelle Thomson, the SNP MSP for Falkirk East, said: 'It's terrible news that TotalEnergies intend to shut down their floating storage and associated oil fields. This can only result in the loss of jobs that will have a much wider impact across the entire sector and undermine any attempts to have a just transition.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Top Gear
23 minutes ago
- Top Gear
Electric Car Grant: here's every car in the UK that gets the discount
Good news: the Electric Car Grant has returned! As surely everyone is thinking, ain't no party like an ECG party. And like all good ECG parties, this one comes with fun like: rules! Stipulations! Eligibility criteria! The government of the United Kingdom has introduced two bands in order to obtain this ECG: Band 1, which offers a fat £3,750 discount for those cars with the lowest CO2 manufacturing footprint, and Band 2, which offers a less fat £1,500 discount for those cars above a certain threshold. The government of the United Kingdom has not yet confirmed what those thresholds are, and… no electric car in the United Kingdom currently qualifies for the fat £3,750 discount. So for now, here's a big list of every car that gets the less fat £1,500 off. Advertisement - Page continues below The hot version of the new Renault 5 supermini. How much of the grant applies? £1,500 (Band 2). So what does it cost after the grant? From £32,000. What do you think of it? It's a very different experience to hot Clios of old, but still a good one… there's a sense of humour, good looks, usable performance, gadgets to play with and it's well priced. Read the full review here You might like It's the electric version of Citroen's best-selling car ever, the C3. How much of the grant applies? £1,500. So what does it cost after the grant? From £20,595. What do you think of it? There's a lot we really, really like about the Citroen e-C3… and not a lot we don't. Read the full review here Advertisement - Page continues below Essentially a slightly larger, raised version of the standard C3 supermini. How much of the grant applies? £1,500. So what does it cost after the grant? From £21,595. What do you think of it? It fulfils its brief as a slightly roomier C3 without becoming too posh or too expensive. Read our full review here Good question. It's still a hatchback, but slightly taller. Not tall enough to be an SUV, and too sleek of boot to be a crossover. How much of the grant applies? £1,500. So what does it cost after the grant? From £26,150. What do you think of it? It's an interestingly styled hatch with a very reasonable asking price. Read our full review here Largely identical to the e-C4, only with an elongated rear end. How much of the grant applies? £1,500. So what does it cost after the grant? From £27,215. What do you think of it? Could do with a slightly firmer setup for better body control: the extra weight (over 200kg vs the hybrid) means it suffers from a bounce and a wallowyness that isn't there in the hybrids. Read the full review here A big, friendly Citroen, now in its second generation and freshly electrified. How much of the grant applies? £1,500. What will it cost? From £32,565. What do you think of it? We've not driven it yet, but it sits on the same bones as the Peugeot e-3008 and e-5008, and both of those are decent... Read the full story here Advertisement - Page continues below A van-based car that offers immense practicality and loads of space. How much of the grant applies? £1,500. So what does it cost after the grant? From £29,740. What do you think of it? Enormously practical and built for family life, the Berlingo does all you could realistically ask of it. Read our full review here Only Nissan's second attempt at an electric car since it introduced the Leaf in 2010 and stole a march on everyone. How much of the grant applies? £1,500. So what does it cost after the grant? From £33,500. What do you think of it? Looks fun, but drives a bit more like you'd expect a Nissan to. If you're after an electric family SUV with a decent amount of range, then you could do a lot worse. Read our full review here Advertisement - Page continues below Everyone's favourite learner car, here reimagined as an electrified supermini, ready to be silently dinged into oblivion by an entirely new generation of drivers. How much of the grant applies? £1,500. So what does it cost after the grant? From £21,495. What do you think of it? We've yet to drive the new one, but it's the based on the 'AmpR Small' platform that underpins the award-winning Renault 5. Find out more here Closely related to the wonderful Renault 5 EV, but with an 8cm longer wheelbase. That's why it's a little more expensive than the R5, even if their names might make you think the prices are the other way around. How much of the grant applies? £1,500. So what does it cost after the grant? From £25,495. What do you think of it? There's goodness in the R4 that goes beyond design: the interior is sublime, the tech is well executed, it's value for money and (most importantly of all) unfailingly uplifting to drive. Renault has hit another home run with this. Read our full review here More than just a simple electric supermini, this is a small car you desire rather than merely decide upon. How much of the grant applies? £1,500. So what does it cost after the grant? From £21,495. What do you think of it? It feels consistent: as charming to drive as it is to look at and to sit in. Your first love should last. Read our full review here Renault's family hatch, designed and built all-in for battery power. How much of the grant applies? £1,500. So what does it cost after the grant? From £30,995. What do you think of it? The Megane is conventionally desirable, handsome, well-finished and easy to use... there's very little wrong with it. Read our full review here It's a long-ish wheelbase, long-range electric family car. How much of the grant applies? £1,500. So what does it cost after the grant? From £35,495. What do you think of it? Space, efficiency and superb tech count in the Scenic's favour. But it's also good-looking on the outside and well-finished within. Read our full review here It's an Astra. And specifically, the Astra Electric. There aren't many more recognisable names in the heartland of British motoring these days. How much of the grant applies? £1,500. So what does it cost after the grant? From £32,630. What do you think of it? We like the eighth-generation Astra, and the electric one is the best of the lot… we're just not head-over-heels in love with it. Read our full review here In case you hadn't guessed yet, it's the fully electric version of one of Britain's best-selling cars. How much of the grant applies? £1,500. So what does it cost after the grant? From £25,280. What do you think of it? It's significantly less peacocky than its Honda or Mini rivals, and it'll go further and has bags more room for people. Read our full review here Vauxhall Combo Life Electric The same van-based car as the Citroen e-Berlingo and the Peugeot e-Rifter. How much of the grant applies? £1,500. So what does it cost after the grant? From £30,690. What do you think of it? The Combo is well judged for family life and makes no misguided attempts at sportiness. Read our full review here Vauxhall Frontera Electric It's the new Vauxhall Frontera, making its return after a 20-year absence. How much of the grant applies? £1,500. So what does it cost after the grant? From £23,995. What do you think of it? It feels well judged. Its driving manners exceeded our expectations, it blends the company's now familiar image with the kind of rugged looks people favour these days, and above all there's no arguing with the cost. Read the full review here Vauxhall Grandland Electric It's the second-generation Vauxhall Grandland, available for the first time with electric power, in case you hadn't already guessed by the name. How much of the grant applies? £1,500. So what does it cost after the grant? From £34,555. What do you think of it? This is a car you'll buy with your sensible shoes on, and not those fluorescent trainers you got on a whim and haven't worn since. Read our full review here Vauxhall's smallest crossover. How much of the grant applies? £1,500. So what does it cost after the grant? From £30,180. What do you think of it? What the Mokka does is make a Corsa-sized crossover more interesting than it has any right to be. Read the full review here
The Guardian
23 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Our list of the summer's best culture picks
Politics Weekly is taking a break for the summer. But, as is tradition, John Harris has a roundup of some of his favourite cultural picks
The Sun
23 minutes ago
- The Sun
Santander makes huge change to 11 bank accounts – thousands will be worse off
SANTANDER has made a huge change to almost a dozen accounts this week in a blow to thousands of savers. The high street giant cut the interest rates on 11 of its savings accounts on August 11. 1 It comes after the Bank of England voted to lower its base rate from 4.5% to 4.25% in May. The decision came as a relief to millions of homeowners on variable rate mortgages, which rise and fall in line with the base rate. But the move often means smaller returns for savers, as when the base rate falls, interest rates on savings often do too. As a result, Santander has cut the interest rates on almost a dozen accounts this week. Among the accounts affected are the Easy Access Saver (Issue 26 and 27), which have seen their interest rates drop from 1.3% to 1.2%. If you had paid £2,000 into this account previously you would have £26 after one year. But now the rate has dropped to 1.2% you will earn £24 - a difference of £2. Meanwhile, several Isa accounts have also had their rates slashed. Among them is the Easy Access Isa (Issue 22 and 23) which has also seen its rate fall from 1.3% to 1.2%. The interest rate on the Help to Buy Isa will also be cut from 2.45% to 2.35%. The change means the amount of interest you would earn on a £2,000 deposit after one year would fall from £49 to £47. Children's accounts have also been hit by the interest rate changes. The rate on a Junior Isa has been cut from 2.8% to 2.7%. Plus, the interest rate on a Flexible Saver for Kids is now 1.95%, down from 2.05%. What types of savings accounts are available? THERE are four types of savings accounts: fixed, notice, easy access, and regular savers. Separately, there are ISAs, or individual savings accounts, which allow individuals to save up to £20,000 a year tax-free. But we've rounded up the main types of conventional savings accounts below. FIXED-RATE A fixed-rate savings account or fixed-rate bond offers some of the highest interest rates but comes at the cost of being unable to withdraw your cash within the agreed term. This means that your money is locked in, so even if interest rates increase you are unable to move your money and switch to a better account. Some providers give the option to withdraw, but it comes with a hefty fee. NOTICE Notice accounts offer slightly lower rates in exchange for more flexibility when accessing your cash. These accounts don't lock your cash away for as long as a typical fixed bond account. You'll need to give advance notice to your bank - up to 180 days in some cases - before you can make a withdrawal or you'll lose the interest. EASY-ACCESS An easy-access account does what it says on the tin and usually allows unlimited cash withdrawals. These accounts tend to offer lower returns, but they are a good option if you want the freedom to move your money without being charged a penalty fee. REGULAR SAVER These accounts pay some of the best returns as long as you pay in a set amount each month. You'll usually need to hold a current account with providers to access the best rates. However, if you have a lot of money to save, these accounts often come with monthly deposit limits. The interest rate on an Inheritance Isa has been slashed from 2.85% to 2.7% while the First Home Saver has seen the return it offers savers drop from 2.45% to 2.35%. All of these accounts have variable interest rates, which means the rate can go up or down. Savers impacted by the changes should have been contacted in June. Fortunately, the major bank still offers returns of up to 5% on its Regular Saver account. A spokesperson for the bank said: 'We are committed to delivering value for our savings customers and offer a range of competitive savings products.' On average savers have around £9,633 squirrelled away, according to online savings platform Raisin, which means it is vital to make sure you are getting the best return. Always compare different accounts to ensure you are getting the most for your money. What are the best accounts on offer? If you want to be able to access your cash at any time then you should go for an easy-access saver account. These accounts usually allow you to withdraw money when you need to without a penalty. But always read the small print as some of these accounts may only allow you to pay in a certain amount or make a set number of withdrawals or the rate will drop. The best easy-access account on offer comes from Chase and has an interest rate of 5%. This means if you saved £1,000 into this account you would earn £50 a year in interest. Meanwhile, Cahoot offers savers a return of 4.55% on savings of £1 or more. If you don't need access to your money right away then a notice account could be a great option. These accounts offer top rates but still let you access your money more easily than a fixed-rate bond. Stafford Building Society's 180 day account offers a return of 4.61% on balances of more than £5,000. Meanwhile, Plum's 95-day notice pocket pays 4.58% on £1 or more. How can I find the best savings rates? WITH your current savings rates in mind, don't waste time looking at individual banking sites to compare rates - it'll take you an eternity. Research price comparison websites such as Compare the Market, and MoneySupermarket. These will help you save you time and show you the best rates available. They also let you tailor your searches to an account type that suits you. As a benchmark, you'll want to consider any account that currently pays more interest than the current level of inflation - 3.4%. It's always wise to have some money stashed inside an easy-access savings account to ensure you have quick access to cash to deal with any emergencies like a boiler repair, for example. If you're saving for a long-term goal, then consider locking some of your savings inside a fixed bond, as these usually come with the highest savings rates. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@
