Just hours after the UK government granted consent for gas production at the Jackdaw field in the North Sea, attention has shifted to the larger and more contentious Rosebank project, where Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh is expected to make a decision before Christmas. The first journalists to visit the floating production vessel at Rosebank found a workforce hopeful that approval will secure their jobs for decades, while environmental campaigners warn that greenlighting the UK's largest untapped oil field would be a disastrous step backwards for climate action.
The BBC was given rare access to the Petrojarl Rosebank, a floating production, storage and offloading vessel moored 80 miles north-west of Shetland, days before Storm Boelo arrived in the region. The vessel, chartered by the field's owners from Aberdeen-based Altera, has been waiting for a final decision since the Court of Session in Edinburgh ruled in 2025 that the original 2023 consent under the Conservative government was unlawful because it failed to account for the climate impact of burning the fossil fuels produced.
Workers on board spoke of their hopes that the project, which contains an estimated 300m to 500m barrels of oil, would be approved. "For myself and a lot of the guys, that would see us out to retirement," said production supervisor Douglas Hogge. "We need to see this approved." Lead mechanical technician Ewan Leonard described conditions as excellent, with single-man cabins, a gym, sauna, cinema and what he called "fantastic" food.
Neil McCulloch, chief executive of Adura, which owns 80% of Rosebank and is a joint venture between Shell and Equinor, argued that approval could pave the way for four more Jackdaw-sized gas developments west of Shetland. He pointed out that gas from Rosebank would be piped to Shetland and on to the St Fergus terminal in Aberdeenshire, with the potential to heat 500,000 British homes at peak production.
Environmental campaigners remain opposed. Tessa Khan, executive director of the campaigning group Uplift, said Rosebank would be "a disastrous decision and a terrible deal for ordinary people across this country." She urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to prioritise renewable energy in his industrial strategy, adding: "If the government's interested in building investor confidence, giving the green light to a major new oil field is going to do the opposite."
The decision on Rosebank, which sources told BBC News should come before Christmas, follows the Jackdaw consent and will be one of the most closely watched energy choices of the Burnham government, as it balances climate pledges against the jobs and tax revenues provided by the oil and gas industry.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The Rosebank decision will signal whether the UK government prioritises near-term energy security and North Sea jobs or its legally binding climate commitments to reduce emissions from fossil fuel consumption.
- Approval could unlock development of at least four additional gas fields west of Shetland, locking in fossil fuel infrastructure for decades at a time when the industry is already in long-term decline.
- The Court of Session's 2025 ruling set a legal precedent requiring full consideration of downstream emissions; the government's decision will test how that precedent is applied in practice.
Background
Consent for the Rosebank oil field was first granted in 2023 under the Conservative government. In 2025, following a legal challenge by Greenpeace and Uplift, the Court of Session in Edinburgh ruled the approvals for Rosebank and the Jackdaw field unlawful because they had failed to take into account the climate impact of burning the fossil fuels. Lord Ericht ruled that developers could continue preparatory work short of production while submitting more detailed environmental assessments. The Jackdaw field has now received fresh consent for gas production. Rosebank is larger, would generate higher greenhouse gas emissions, and could be far more lucrative for its owners, Adura (a joint venture between Shell and Equinor) and Ithaca.
Key Perspectives
Workers on the Petrojarl Rosebank: "For myself and a lot of the guys, that would see us out to retirement," production supervisor Douglas Hogge said, adding: "We need to see this approved." Lead mechanical technician Ewan Leonard praised the facilities and described the food as "fantastic."
Neil McCulloch, chief executive of Adura: McCulloch is optimistic that Rosebank's gas could heat 500,000 British homes at peak production. He argues that approval could pave the way for four further gas developments: Tornado, Tornado East, Tobermory and Suilven. "We would like to proceed with them," he said.
Tessa Khan, executive director of Uplift: "The future of the energy sector in the UK is renewable energy," Khan said. She described Rosebank as "a disastrous decision and a terrible deal for ordinary people" and warned that approval would make "huge profits for companies that are already incredibly profitable" while exacerbating climate change.
What to Watch
- The timing and content of Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh's decision on Rosebank, expected before Christmas.
- Any further legal challenges from environmental groups if the government approves the field.
- The response from Adura and Ithaca: whether they proceed immediately with production if approved, or face further practical and regulatory hurdles.