Fahnbulleh faces isolation as ministers weigh approval for Rosebank drilling

The article says Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh is increasingly isolated as the Prime Minister and Chancellor are reported to favour approving drilling at the Rosebank oil field. It presents this as part of a wider shift in government emphasis towards reducing energy costs and securing supply, alongside climate goals.

A Labour source says the Rosebank decision will be made across government, while Fahnbulleh’s aides and the Energy Department say she alone will decide through a quasi-judicial process. The article notes that the Budget included projected Rosebank tax receipts. It also reports that September brought £505 million in costs linked to balancing wind power, and cites an estimate that disconnecting turbines could cost £9 billion by 2029, potentially adding up to £100 to household bills.