RE: Lack of news14 Nov 2019 20:09
This UKEF application will need ministerial sign off, because of its size, novelty in supporting an oil development, and negative political impact (carbon emission reduction targets, Argentine relations), irrespective of the scale of due diligence. Approval would invite the whole UK oil and gas industry to seek UKEF support for overseas projects. Imagine the Green response to that. So, it is tricky and far from assured.
There is also the matter of purdah to observe, as Mogger has pointed out.
Until there is a new government in place, there will be no minister able to sign it off. The way things are going, there is a strong chance of a hung parliament and no ministers in place by the Christmas break. Corbyn’s Labour would cast off the Falklands to their fate with newly elected Cristina and bring the troops home. Any alliance of Lib Dems, Greens, SNP, Plaid Cymru and DUP would be against fossil fuels. The only hope of a minister who will sign it off is a Tory win. That looks increasingly remote.
FID by end of 2019 is impossible, which is why the PMO trading statement consigned Sea Lion to the “nothing to report” category.
What a mess. Tragic that such enthusiasm with discovery has turned to such dejection for lack of money. I am starting to think it will never happen. A bit like SXX for similar reasons.