EDF Energy chief executive Simone Rossi says approving the Rosebank and Jackdaw North Sea oil and gas projects would not conflict with the UK’s net zero goals. He argues domestic production could replace some imports, support jobs and tax revenues, and help households with energy bills, while the country steadily shifts towards electrification.

Rossi says reducing fossil fuel use at the point of consumption is essential and electricity is the long-term solution. EDF supplies about a fifth of the UK’s low-carbon electricity and has around 8GW of low-carbon capacity, including nuclear, wind, solar and battery storage. The government is expected to decide on the two already licensed projects within weeks; ministers face pressure from environmental groups to reject them, and developers had to resubmit their applications after a court required further consideration of emissions from burning the fuels.