To be fair, I think NSTA would be under the pump in trying to...

To be fair, I think NSTA would be under the pump in trying to get the balance of the 33rd round of licenses issued. On top of that, the Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill is due for its 3rd reading on 20th Feb so that will be focusing the mind of the Minister for Energy.

I also suspect that the dept doing the environmental assessment of the remaining SNS blocks has been extra careful in crossing the T's and dotting the I's to minimise any impact from the green lobby in trying to slow the process using judicial reviews etc. (As reference, they had a go at Rosebank last year which the UK courts dismissed, so they are now pushing for a JR in the court of sessions in Edinburgh instead). Judicial Reviews cant question a development, but they can try and question a minister's decision in giving consent. So far, that has been unsuccessful, but you never know nowadays. These green lobbies seem to infiltrate everywhere, and all you need is one sympathising judge!!