Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) has called on the UK government to accelerate consent for the Rosebank and Jackdaw developments, warning that continued delays are undermining investor confidence and increasing reliance on higher-carbon imports. The two projects, representing a combined private investment of £10.8bn ($14.4bn), are critical to domestic energy supply, according to the trade body.
The call comes in response to public consultations covering both projects. The Jackdaw consultation runs until August 10, while the Rosebank process closes on August 17. Rosebank, located around 80 miles west of the Shetland Islands, represents £8.7bn ($11.6bn) of private investment and is the largest advanced UK energy project still awaiting regulatory approval. Jackdaw, situated about 150 miles east of Aberdeen, involves £2.1bn ($2.8bn) of investment, more than three-quarters of which is expected to be spent in the UK. The projects were approved by the previous Conservative government in 2022 and 2023 but have since faced two years of uncertainty. Around £3bn ($4bn) has already been invested in preparations.
Project Details and Investment
| Metric | Rosebank | Jackdaw | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | 80 miles west of Shetland | 150 miles east of Aberdeen | – |
| Investment | £8.7bn ($11.6bn) | £2.1bn ($2.8bn) | £10.8bn ($14.4bn) |
| Gross Value Added (GVA) over life | – | – | £28.7bn ($38.2bn) |
| Supply-chain activity | – | – | £9.1bn ($12.1bn) |
| Tax revenue by 2034 | – | – | £3.8bn ($5.1bn) |
| Peak construction jobs | – | – | Over 3,500 |
| Sustained production jobs | – | – | Around 880 |
| Apprenticeships | – | – | At least 125 |
| Expected operating life | 25 years | 11 years | – |
| Peak output (UK domestic gas) | – | – | 10% |
| Peak output (UK oil) | – | – | 10% |
Regulatory Timeline and Uncertainty
OEUK noted that the projects were originally approved in 2022 and 2023 but have since faced two years of uncertainty. The delays have weakened confidence in domestic oil and gas development and contributed to greater reliance on imports, according to the trade body. OEUK argued that imported supplies can carry a carbon footprint up to four times higher than production from UK waters.
Supply Chain and Shipping Implications
For the logistics and shipping sector, approval of Rosebank and Jackdaw would mean increased demand for tanker and LNG shipping services to support production and distribution. At peak output, the fields could account for 10% of UK domestic gas production and 10% of oil output. Delays prolong import dependency, which may sustain higher shipping volumes from overseas suppliers but also increase carbon emissions along supply chains. The combined £9.1bn in supply-chain activity would benefit offshore support vessels, port infrastructure, and pipeline logistics.
OEUK’s Call for Action
“Permission for these two projects would help clear the log jam preventing development of other projects in the North Sea,” said David Whitehouse, OEUK chief executive.
Whitehouse added that approval would help restore investor confidence and demonstrate that the revised regulatory process can move projects forward. OEUK also called for faster implementation of the Oil and Gas Revenue Levy, which it said was needed to unlock a wider pipeline of 111 offshore energy projects.
The operational impact for freight and logistics operators is clear: delayed approval postpones a significant injection of capital and cargo flows into the North Sea energy supply chain. For tanker owners, LNG carriers, and offshore service providers, the projects represent multi-year contracts and utilisation that are now on hold. Shippers and freight forwarders with exposure to UK energy imports should monitor the consultation outcomes, as approval would shift some cargo volumes from long-haul imports to domestic production, potentially altering vessel demand patterns on the Atlantic and North Sea routes.
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