Rosebank a ‘different proposition’ as Jackdaw gas field gets go-ahead
THE ROSEBANK oil field – located to the northwest of Shetland – is a “different proposition” to the newly approved Jackdaw gas development, according to the UK Government’s energy secretary.
Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland, Miatta Fahnbulleh said this is because oil from Rosebank would be exported, whereas gas from Jackdaw will go straight into the UK system.
While approval for Jackdaw, located to the east of Aberdeen, was announced this morning (Wednesday), no decision has yet been made on Rosebank.
Something of note in the Jackdaw announcement is the UK Government confirming plans to set up a new energy wealth fund, where tax revenues from North Sea oil and gas is invested in renewable and low carbon energy projects and support the green transition.
This will start with an initial £2 billion injection of funding, with future revenues from the North Sea flowing into the scheme over time.
The approval of Jackdaw coincides with the publication of an UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report urging the world to cut carbon emissions by 18 per cent over the next four years to limit global temperature rises by 1.7C above preindustrial levels.
It also comes as officials from the government’s GB Energy will visit Shetland this week discuss how island communities can benefit more from renewable energy.
GB Energy is a publicly-owned company which was set up by the Labour government to accelerate the UK’s transition to renewable power.
Previous decisions to approve Jackdaw and Rosebank have had to be reconsidered following a court ruling on environmental impact in early 2025.
After the go-ahead was given for Jackdaw, prime minister Andy Burham said the move will protect hundreds of jobs and help keep millions of homes warm this winter”.
“At a time when people are really struggling, it’s right that we look in a responsible way at maximising the existing energy reserves we have in Britain that could help,” he said.
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The Jackdaw decision is expected to increase domestic gas production by around six per cent at its peak.
But the decision will anger environmental campaigners who say Jackdaw and Rosebank, which are both being developed by the Equinor-Shell firm Adura, should not go ahead.
Fahnbulleh said Jackdaw’s approval is “compatible with our legally binding climate commitments, and we remain resolute in ending new licences for oil and gas and achieving net zero by 2050”.
For Rosebank, work has continued on developing the field since the court ruling.
It has been reported that a decision on Rosebank could follow later this year.
The field is located around 130 kilometres northwest of Shetland and is the largest undeveloped oil field in the region – with expected resources estimated at more than 350 million barrels of oil equivalent.
Oil will bypass Shetland, but gas will go through a pipeline to Sullom Voe Terminal.
Burnham said in his Jackdaw comment that the government is taking a “pragmatic” approach to oil and gas development.
The government said the new Energy Wealth Fund will support investment in the renewable and low carbon energy industries that will “power Britain’s future”.
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