BP exit puts fresh pressure on UK over Jackdaw and Rosebank

Unite Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce (AGCC) has urged ministers to deliver swift approvals for the Jackdaw and Rosebank developments, warning that the UK’s energy industry cannot afford further uncertainty following BP’s decision to sell its North Sea business . The chamber sent a consultation response to the Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment & Decommissioning (OPRED) that environmental assessments of both projects must consider not only the impacts of domestic production but also the environmental and economic consequences of replacing UK energy with higher-emissions imports. The submission to OPRED comes days after BP announced it is seeking a buyer for its North Sea business. AGCC believes that BP’s move needs an urgent government response to restore investor confidence in the UK Continental Shelf. “BP’s announcement should serve as a wake-up call. It is another stark reminder of what prolonged policy uncertainty means in practice. Investment goes elsewhere, businesses lose confidence, and the UK’s industrial capability is gradually eroded. The UK will continue to require oil and gas throughout the energy transition. The choice is whether that demand is met by lower-emissions domestic production, supporting British jobs and investment, or by importing energy from overseas with a higher carbon footprint,” said Russell Borthwick, chief executive of AGCC. The chamber said that the evidence submitted by the project operators shows Jackdaw gas would be significantly less carbon-intensive than imported LNG, while Rosebank’s production emissions are expected to be substantially below the global average for oil production. According to Borthwick, the two projects represent almost £29bn ($39bn) of economic value, 3,500 construction jobs, sustain around 880 long-term operational roles, create more than 125 apprenticeships, and generate approximately £1.4bn ($1.9bn) in tax revenues during the current parliament. “Our own Energy Transition Survey found that 93% of businesses believe there remains a future for the North Sea if the right fiscal and regulatory framework is in place. The prime minister has spoken about taking a pragmatic approach to the North Sea. Now is the time to demonstrate that pragmatism by providing timely, evidence-based decisions on Jackdaw and Rosebank, replacing the Energy Profits Levy with the promised Oil & Gas Revenue Levy, and restoring the stable long-term investment environment our industry needs,” he added Follow Us Bojan Lepic Bojan is an English language professor turned journalist with years of experience covering the energy industry with a focus on the oil, gas, and LNG industries as well as reporting on the rise of the energy transition. Previously, he had written for Navingo media group titles including Offshore Energy Today and LNG World News. Before joining Splash, Bojan worked as an editor for Rigzone online magazine. Newsletter DAILY SPLASH NEWSLETTER Subscribe now for FREE daily news updates. Subscribe Read Next August 3, 2026 Ditas doubles down on suezmaxes with Samsung brace August 3, 2026 Costamare Bulkers offloads its oldest ship August 3, 2026 Navigator Amon seals financing for ammonia carrier newbuilds August 3, 2026 North Star secures $370m to fuel offshore wind fleet growth August 3, 2026 Tanker asset values stay red hot