UK Government launches public consultation on Rosebank oilfield
The consultation comes as developer Equinor releases the latest environmental impact statement in relation to the oilfield.
Earlier this year, Rosebank oilfield consent was overturned in Scotland. Scotland’s Court of Session ruled that the 2023 approval of the Rosebank oil field could not go ahead, as it did not account for the Scope 3 emissions that would be caused by burning the field’s oil.
If Rosebank’s owners wished to move ahead with the project, they would need to resubmit a new Environmental Impact Assessment to the UK Government, which accounts for the field’s Scope 3 emissions.
The Rosebank field is situated in the Faroe-Shetland Channel on the north-west edge of the UK Continental Shelf. The location is approximately 130km north-west of Shetland in water depths of around 1,100m.
The proposed project includes the drilling of the production and water injection wells, the installation and commissioning of the required subsea infrastructure and gas export pipeline, and the redeployment of an existing floating production storage and offloading vessel (FPSO) for the extraction and processing of hydrocarbons from the Rosebank field. Equinor UK Ltd will operate the Rosebank development.
Subsea facility installation commenced in summer 2024 with first drilling planned in Q1 2026. First oil is targeted in Q4 2026. Field life is estimated to be approximately 25 years.
A copy of the most recent Environmental Statement, summary of the project and the further information may be obtained from Equinor.
A public notice announcing the government consulation outlines: "...The project is subject to an environmental impact assessment procedure...regulation 13 applies as the project could have a significant effect on the environment of Norway or The Faroe Islands; this does not relate to the effects of scope 3 emissions...which are considered to have a global effect.
'The Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) is responsible for deciding whether or not to grant consent for the project, but agreement to the grant of consent must be obtained from the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (“the Secretary of State”)...The Secretary of State’s decision on whether or not to agree to the grant of consent is based on the environmental impact assessment for the project.'
Public consultation representations, comments or questions relating to the project may be made to the Secretary of State by 20 November 2025.
All representations should quote reference number ES/2022/001 and may be made by letter or by email to:
Business Support Team
Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment & Decommissioning
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
AB1 Building
Crimon Place
Aberdeen AB10 1BJ
