UK considers North Sea drilling again as Rosebank and Jackdaw approvals loom

What's happened

Public First analysis for Adura says approving Rosebank and Jackdaw could add 3350 jobs and £35.3bn in UK GVA by 2035, while boosting tax receipts by £4.1bn over ten years. Opponents warn climate risks amid a pivotal energy security moment.

What's behind the headline?

Brief

• The North Sea remains a key economic asset as UK ministers juggle energy security with climate commitments.
• Public First’s analysis places a clear economic price on delaying Rosebank and Jackdaw: billions in value, thousands of jobs, and enhanced tax revenue.
• The argument hinges on whether securing domestic output can co-exist with reducing emissions, given LNG import emissions are higher than domestic production.

What this means for readers

• If approved, Jackdaw could deliver gas to homes this winter as projects near completion; Rosebank’s decision will determine broader supply resilience.
• The debate frames a broader question: is the UK willing to rely on domestic oil and gas to shore up energy security or accelerate a transition away from fossil fuels?

How we got here

The government is weighing final approvals for Rosebank and Jackdaw, two large North Sea fields, after initial authorisations were delayed by a court ruling. The projects are led by Adura (Equinor and Shell) with partners including Ithaca. The decision follows Labour's manifesto pledge to curb new drilling, and comes as UK energy security concerns rise amid geopolitical tensions and high energy prices.

Our analysis

BBC Business reports Equinor warning of investment risks if Rosebank and Jackdaw are rejected; The Scotsman compiles detailed analysis including government positions and industry responses; The Scotsman also notes political pressure and regional employment implications; Financial impact figures are attributed to Public First’s analysis commissioned by Adura.

Go deeper

• Will the final decision affect household energy bills in the coming months?
• What does this mean for UK energy security if approvals are delayed again?
• Which parties or actors stand to gain or lose most from the approvals?

More on these topics

• Aberdeen - City in Scotland

  Aberdeen is a city in northeast Scotland. It is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 39th most populous built-up area, with an official 2018 population estimate of 198,880 for th

• North Sea - Sea

  The North Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located between Great Britain, Denmark, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France.

• Equinor ASA - Company

• Anders Opedal - Chief Executive Officer of Statoil

  Anders Opedal is the incumbent chief executive officer, and former chief operating officer, of Norwegian oil and gas company Equinor. He joined the company in 1997 having previously worked for Schlumberger and Baker Hughes. He stepped down from the COO po

• Labour Party - Centrist social democratic political party in the United Kingdom

  The Labour Party, commonly Labour, is one of the two main political parties in the United Kingdom, along with the Conservative Party. It sits on the centre-left of the left–right political spectrum, and has been described as an alliance of democratic...

• Andy Burnham - Mayor of Greater Manchester

  Andrew Murray Burnham is a British Labour Party politician who has served as Mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017. He attended Gordon Brown’s Cabinet as Chief Secretary to the Treasury from 2007 to 2008 and served in the Cabinet as Culture Secretary f

• United Kingdom - Country in Europe

  The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom or Britain, is a sovereign country located off the north­western coast of the European mainland.