Rosebank oil field
Undeveloped oil field west of Shetland, operated by Equinor with Ithaca Energy.
Rosebank gained a political ally on 19 September 2026, when Michael Marra won the Scottish Labour leadership and backed approval of the field, which has had no valid consent since the Court of Session quashed its 2023 approval in 2025.
Last refreshed: 7 October 2026
Timeline for Rosebank oil field
Mentioned in: Marra's MSPs vote for right to decide
UK Local Elections 2026Background
Rosebank is an undeveloped oil field in the Faroe-Shetland Channel, about 130km north-west of Shetland. Equinor is the operator, with Ithaca Energy as partner. It received development approval in September 2023.
In 2025 the Court of Session ruled that approval unlawful, because the environmental assessment left out emissions from burning the oil the field would produce. Preparatory work can carry on, but production needs a fresh decision, which was still outstanding in late September 2026.
The field has become a test of how ministers weigh new North Sea production against climate commitments, and it divides Scottish parties. Scottish Labour's leader came out for it in September 2026.
A new leader backs the field
Marra took the Scottish Labour leadership on 19 September 2026 with 4,266 votes against 2,485 and used his first remarks as leader to support approving Rosebank alongside Jackdaw. On this field, that places his party nearer the north-east oil industry than the Scottish Greens.
Holyrood does not take the decision. Since the 2025 court ruling, a fresh consent is needed before any oil can be produced, and none had been issued by late September 2026. For Equinor and its partner, Marra's position adds a Labour voice in Scotland in FAVOUR of production while that decision is pending.