UK government will not fight Rosebank oil field legal challenge

Rosebank off Shetland, owned by Norwegian energy giant Equinor and British firm Ithaca Energy, is the UK’s largest untapped oil field. Consent for drilling there was granted in September last year.

Scotland’s then first minister Humza Yousaf said he was “disappointed” at the decision and accused Downing Street of “climate denial”.

Shell’s proposals to develop Jackdaw, east of Aberdeen, were approved in 2022 after initially being rejected on environmental grounds.

A spokesperson for the energy giant said it would carefully consider the implications of the government’s announcement.

They added: “We believe the Jackdaw field remains an important development for the UK, providing fuel to heat 1.4 million homes and supporting energy security, as other older gas fields reach the end of production.”