The Rosebank oil field is the UK’s largest undeveloped oil and gas project in the North Sea, located about 60 miles west of the Shetland Islands.

Rosebank is operated by Ithaca Energy (with co-ownership involving Adura and originally Equinor involvement in planning).

It holds estimated recoverable reserves of up to around 500 million barrels of oil equivalent (primarily oil, with some gas).

The claim that it “could be producing millions of barrels a day by autumn” comes directly from statements by Ithaca Energy’s leadership in mid-March 2026. They indicated the project is in the final stages of development, with the production vessel (Petrojarl Rosebank) en route, and that first oil could flow within months—potentially by autumn 2026—if Energy Secretary Ed Miliband grants final ministerial approval/consent for production to begin.

Key context and status as of March 2026:

• Development has progressed significantly: Subsea installations started in 2024, and drilling was set to begin around March 2026 using rigs like Deepsea Atlantic.
• Peak production isn’t specified in the headlines as “millions” per day (that phrasing appears sensationalized in media coverage and quotes), but the field is described as capable of substantial output once online. Realistic estimates from prior reports suggest peak rates in the range of tens of thousands of barrels per day (not millions), contributing modestly to UK supply (e.g., gas potentially ~1% of national needs).
• The project requires government sign-off on the production plan/environmental consents, despite earlier approvals/licensing under the previous government. Miliband (as Energy Secretary under the current Labour administration) has faced pressure from industry groups, unions (e.g., Unite), manufacturers, and some politicians to approve it amid rising energy prices (linked to geopolitical events like tensions involving Iran) and concerns over jobs/energy security in the North Sea.
• Opposing pressures come from climate campaigners, environmental groups, and Labour’s net zero commitments. Critics argue approving new extraction conflicts with the UK’s 2050 net zero target, could emit hundreds of millions of tonnes of CO2 over the field’s life (~25 years), and there’s been legal/ethical scrutiny (e.g., over ownership ties or international law claims).
• No final decision has been publicly confirmed yet in the latest reports (as of mid-March 2026); Miliband has been described as sceptical in some coverage, balancing energy needs against climate goals. Production startup is targeted for late 2026 or early 2027 if approved.

This reflects ongoing tensions in UK energy policy: pushing for domestic fossil fuel production to reduce import reliance and support jobs, versus accelerating the transition away from oil/gas to meet climate targets.

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Britain’s largest oil field could be producing millions of barrels a day by autumn… if Ed Miliband says yes

Britain’s largest oil field could be producing millions of barrels a day by the autumn if Ed Miliband gives a green light to its plans, according to its owner. The Daily Mail Online has the story.

The Energy Secretary must grant his approval for production to begin at the Rosebank site, which is off the coast of the Shetland Islands and is the North Sea’s largest undeveloped site.

The project’s owner, Ithaca Energy, said on Wednesday it is ‘entering the final stages of development towards first production’ – with the site forecast to generate up to 500million barrels of oil and gas.

Gas from Rosebank would be used in the UK and contribute to around 1 per cent of national needs.

But the oil would have to be exported elsewhere in northern Europe, as the UK no longer has the refinery capabilities to process it.

It comes just days after the industry group representing the UK’s manufacturers told Mr Miliband he must urgently approve the project amid concerns over a new energy crisis.

The outbreak of war in the Middle East has sparked fears over an energy crisis similar to the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Read the full story here.