Miatta Fahnbulleh, the United Kingdom's Energy Secretary, faced criticism for not engaging with the press during her initial official visit to Aberdeen to meet with oil and gas executives on Thursday. Fahnbulleh, who was appointed to the role on Monday, did not issue a statement or allow media access following her discussions in the city, often referred to as the energy capital.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) stated that the media's exclusion was due to Fahnbulleh's recent appointment. However, Conservative opponents pointed out that she had given media interviews in London within 24 hours of taking office.
Scottish Conservatives accused Fahnbulleh of avoiding scrutiny on policies such as a ban on new oil and gas drilling and a significant windfall tax on energy firms, which they claim has led to substantial job losses. Shadow Scottish Secretary Andrew Bowie suggested that her actions indicated a dismissive attitude towards the oil and gas sector and that her visit was a missed opportunity to signal a positive shift in the Labour party's policy.
Fahnbulleh has a documented history of opposing new oil and gas fields and advocating for accelerated Net Zero targets. In 2022, she posted on social media that "To have a shot at staying within 1.5C global warming, we can’t have any new oil or gas fields." As Energy Secretary, she will be involved in key decisions regarding proposed projects like the Rosebank oil and Jackdaw gas fields.
These projects, which have the potential to supply a significant portion of the UK's energy needs, have faced delays due to legal challenges and reassessments. While the Labour party's manifesto included a promise to ban new drilling licenses for climate reasons, there are indications of a potential shift in emphasis regarding North Sea projects.
Industry representatives have expressed that approving projects like Rosebank and Jackdaw would signal the UK's openness to investment and its commitment to domestic energy production and job preservation. Some within the Scottish National Party (SNP) also voiced concerns that current policies are negatively impacting jobs in Scotland's oil and gas sector.
A DESNZ spokesperson indicated that Fahnbulleh is expected to address the media on future visits to Scotland.