British Petroleum defies green tyranny, reopens North Sea oil field

08/14/2025 / By Ramon Tomey

BP is reopening the Murlach oil field in the North Sea – previously closed in 2004 – due to improved extraction technology, projecting 20 million barrels of oil and 600 million cubic meters of gas over 11 years.
The move clashes with U.K. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband’s push to halt new North Sea licenses and raise oil/gas taxes, highlighting a broader debate over fossil fuels vs. renewable energy priorities.
BP argues domestic fossil fuel production is vital to offset declining North Sea output (down 27 percent since 2020) and reduce reliance on imports, while critics like Greenpeace call it a backward step, advocating for unreliable wind energy instead.
U.S. President Donald Trump criticized U.K. oil taxes as stifling production, while British Chancellor Rachel Reeves called oil/gas a transitional necessity for energy security. The U.K. government won’t issue new permits but will honor existing licenses like Murlach’s.
BP’s move mirrors Shell’s reactivation of the Penguins complex, signaling a broader industry push to reclaim energy independence and resist “Net Zero” mandates.

In a move that has ignited tensions between energy security advocates and environmental campaigners, British Petroleum (BP) is reviving the once-abandoned Murlach oil field in the North Sea – signaling a renewed commitment to fossil fuel production despite political opposition.

Murlach, located 120 miles east of the Scottish port city of Aberdeen, was shuttered in 2004 as uneconomical. But more than two decades later, the field has been deemed viable again due to advancing extraction technologies.

Production could resume as early as next month, with BP projecting an 11-year output of 20 million barrels of oil and 600 million cubic meters of gas. The decision arrives amid fierce resistance from British Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, who has sought to halt new North Sea licenses and nearly doubled taxes on oil and gas profits.

The revival of Murlach underscores a broader clash over the future of energy in the United Kingdom. While the Labor government under Prime Minister Keir Starmer vows to prioritize renewables, BP and other industry players argue that domestic fossil fuel production remains critical to offset declining output and curb reliance on imports.

North Sea oil production has plummeted from 96,000 barrels per day in 2020 to 70,000 last year, with gas output also slipping. “Redevelopment of decommissioned fields is now a feature of the North Sea,” said Mike Tholen of Offshore Energies UK, emphasizing that innovative tech has unlocked previously stranded reserves.

BP and Shell push back against Net Zero

Environmental groups, however, decry the move as a step backward. Greenpeace UK Policy Director Dr. Doug Parr dismissed the North Sea’s remaining reserves as “barely enough to keep it on life support.” He urged a pivot to wind energy, which produces lower amounts of energy compared to fossil fuels. (Related: Study: Renewable energy boom fails to displace fossil fuels.)

The criticism echoes global tensions over fossil fuel dependence, even as nations grapple with energy affordability and grid stability. The British government meanwhile maintains that existing licenses like that of Murlach will be honored, though no new exploration permits will be issued.

The debate gained political fuel last month when U.S. President Donald Trump lambasted the U.K.’s high oil taxes as disincentivizing production during a visit to Scotland. “North Sea Oil is a treasure chest for the United Kingdom,” he posted on Truth Social, urging lower levies to spur investment. Meanwhile, British Chancellor Rachel Reeves recently framed oil and gas as transitional necessities, stating they remain “incredibly important for energy security.”

As BP prepares to restart Murlach, the field joins Shell’s recently reactivated Penguins complex north of Shetland. These recent developments hint at an industry determined to restore energy independence and break free from the clutches of Net Zero.

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Watch this video about Norway, another country with North Sea oil reserves, ditching fossil fuel for renewables.

This video is from the worknewschannel75 channel on Brighteon.com.