Adura has today welcomed the opening of public consultation by the Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED) on the Rosebank oil and gas field.
The consultation, which has now opened and will run until 17th August 2026, forms part of the regulatory process required before Rosebank can commence production.
Rosebank represents private sector investment of £8.7billion and is the largest advanced energy project awaiting regulatory approval in the UK. Together with the Jackdaw gas field, which also recently entered public consultation, the two projects represent a combined investment of £10.8billion, with more than three-quarters of that investment in the UK.
Adura said that approval of Rosebank alongside Jackdaw would provide the greatest possible economic and energy-security benefit to the UK, unlocking a nationally significant programme of investment, supply-chain activity, skilled employment and domestic energy production.
Across their producing lifespans, the two projects are expected to generate £28.7billion in economic activity in the UK economy (GVA). This includes £15.4billion from construction and operations, £9.1billion in supply-chain activity and a further £4.2billion generated across the wider economy through workforce spending. In addition, they will generate £1.4billion in tax revenues before the expected end of this Parliament in 2029.
Rosebank, as the larger of the two investments, would be a major driver of this economic activity, providing long-term work for ports, fabricators, manufacturers, engineering firms, vessel operators and specialist energy businesses across the UK.
Across Rosebank and Jackdaw, 198 contracts have been placed with suppliers, including 171 UK-registered companies across North-east Scotland, Fife, the Highlands and north-east England, while Rosebank-related activity is already supporting Lerwick Port in Shetland.
Together, Rosebank and Jackdaw will support:
- £28.7billion in Gross Value Added across their producing lifespans.
- £9.1billion in supply-chain activity.
- £1.4billion in tax revenues before the end of this Parliament, rising to £3.8billion before the expected end of the next Parliament in 2034.
- More than 3,500 jobs at peak construction.
- 880 high-quality jobs sustained throughout production, paying an average salary of approximately £85,850.
- At least 125 apprenticeships, helping to build the workforce required for both the North Sea and the wider energy transition.
Rosebank and Jackdaw will also make a material contribution to UK energy security. At peak production, the two projects will provide around 10 per cent of the UK’s domestic natural gas production. Rosebank is also expected to produce approximately 69,000 barrels of oil per day at its peak, equivalent to around 10 per cent of anticipated UK Continental Shelf oil output.
With total UK oil production projected to fall to approximately 420,000 barrels per day by 2030, Rosebank is large enough to slow the decline in domestic production by several years, reducing the pace at which the UK becomes increasingly dependent on international markets.
Across Adura’s portfolio, including Jackdaw, Rosebank and future developments, average production emissions intensity could be as little as half the North Sea average. Rosebank is expected to have a production emissions intensity of approximately 12kgCO₂e per barrel of oil equivalent, around 20kgCO₂e below the global average for crude production.
The retrofitted Petrojarl Rosebank Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel arrived at its location West of Shetland last month. Significant engineering, fabrication and construction work has already been completed, with more than £3billion invested across Rosebank and Jackdaw to date.
Neil McCulloch, CEO of Adura, said: “Rosebank is a project of national scale and significance. It represents an anticipated investment of £8.7billion and has the potential to support businesses, skilled workers and communities across the UK for many years to come.
“We welcome the opening of public consultation and would encourage everyone who wants to see Britain strengthen its energy security, create high-quality jobs and support its world-class energy supply chain to make their voice heard in support of this endeavour.
“The scale of the supply-chain opportunity is particularly significant. From Shetland to Southend, businesses across the UK are already contributing their skills and expertise to delivering Rosebank and Jackdaw.
“Rosebank and Jackdaw can be part of a nationally significant programme of reindustrialisation, stimulating economic growth, sustaining thousands of jobs and apprenticeships, and providing substantial revenues to fund public services.
“Together, they can provide around 10 per cent of the UK’s domestic gas production, while Rosebank alone can contribute approximately 10 per cent of UK Continental Shelf oil output. Rosebank can also help increase the availability of refined products such as jet fuel and slow the decline in UK oil production by several years.
“Timely consent for both Rosebank and Jackdaw is the way to deliver the greatest benefit for the UK: supporting domestic energy production, unlocking billions of pounds of economic activity and giving supply-chain businesses the confidence to invest in their people and our industrial future.”