Regulatory Request for Additional Information

The UK's Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment & Decommissioning (OPRED) has requested additional information from Adura regarding the Rosebank and Jackdaw field developments. This follows the quashing of the original project consents by a Scottish court in January 2025, after which Adura submitted new environmental statements including Scope 3 emissions data last year.

Details of Information Required

OPRED's request, detailed in notices published on a Friday, calls for further data on several fronts. This includes the methodologies and scenarios used to calculate project emissions, the impacts on human health and biodiversity, and further statistics supporting mitigation arguments. Specifically, OPRED has asked for emissions estimates encompassing all emergency response and support activities, such as those from supply vessels and helicopters.

Context and Significance of the Decisions

Government decisions on these fields are viewed as a critical test for new UK North Sea developments, given policy commitments to limit new projects and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. While Adura's updated statements concluded the projects would be among the lowest-emitting in the UK North Sea and not significantly impact national emissions targets, OPRED has challenged this framing. The regulator noted that comparing a single project's emissions to UK national targets fails to account for cumulative effects and has requested the emissions be assessed against current and projected global emissions.

Broader Considerations for Project Approval

Beyond emissions, development consent decisions also weigh wider economic factors. OPRED has consequently requested more detailed information on projected job numbers, training opportunities, and supply chain impacts to inform these considerations.

Developer's Response and Project Claims

Adura has stated it is reviewing OPRED's latest request and will engage constructively to provide the sought information. The company emphasizes the projects' economic and energy security benefits, citing approximately £8 billion in direct UK investment and support for over 3,000 supply chain jobs. Adura also reiterates that Rosebank and Jackdaw will be among the lowest-emissions developments on the UK Continental Shelf, which it describes as one of the world's most highly-regulated and lowest-emissions basins, and that the projects will strengthen domestic and European supply while reducing reliance on carbon-intensive imports.