Energy / Equinor will ‘defend its case’ in Rosebank legal challenge
NORWEGIAN firm Equinor says it will fight a legal challenge against the planned Rosebank oil and gas development north west of Shetland.
A spokesperson said “we will defend our case as an interested party”.
It comes after the UK Government confirmed last month that it would not contest the legal challenge from environmental campaigners.
This followed a landmark ruling from the Supreme Court which said a council in England should have considered the climate impact of new oil wells, which in effect set a new precedent for regulators.
Campaigners have argued that ignoring the impact of emissions from burning Rosebank’s oil is unlawful and incompatible with the government’s plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions and achieve a safe climate.
Greenpeace and campaign group Uplift both called for a judicial review of the Rosebank project, which received UK Government approval last year.
The government said its decision not to contest the legal challenge did not mean the licence for Rosebank was being removed.
Equipment for the Rosebank development has already arrived in Lerwick Harbour by boat, however, to be shipped onwards to the field ahead of drilling starting next year.
Lerwick playing its part as installation work gets underway on Rosebank oil development
As it stands first oil is expected from Rosebank, which is located around 130 kilometres north west of Shetland, in late 2026.
Rosebank is the largest undeveloped oil field in the region, with total expected resources sitting at around 300 million barrels.
An Equinor spokesperson said: “Rosebank is a vital project for the UK and is bringing benefits in terms of investment, job creation and energy security.”
Uplift director Tessa Khan, executive director at Uplift said the “government was right not to waste time and money trying to defend Rosebank” and claimed the interests of the public are not served by allowing its development.
“We face a stark choice today: do we protect ourselves against the worsening climate crisis or allow the oil and gas industry to continue profiteering,” she said.
“Oil companies, like Equinor, are fighting in courts around the world to be allowed to keep polluting. The case against Rosebank is about the UK’s fight for a liveable future.”
Energy firm Shell is also set to fight a similar legal challenge against its Jackdaw gas field off Aberdeen, which received government approval in 2022.
A spokesperson said it “will argue that Jackdaw is a vital project for UK energy security that is already well under way”.
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