A decision had been expected in September, but The Telegraph revealed it had been pushed back until after the by-election in Holborn and St Pancras on Thursday.
The previous Conservative government originally approved Rosebank in 2023 and Jackdaw in 2022. However, the projects have been beset by delays and legal challenges, with environmental campaigners managing to overturn the original approvals, forcing fresh applications in 2025.
Mr Opedal said: “The Keir Starmer government said the UK was open for business. We’ve applied for consent twice … Adura has done everything it has been asked to do. The UK has one of the most rigorous approval processes in the world.”
Mr Opedal said he anticipated the project would be approved.
Labour’s 2024 manifesto said it would issue no new North Sea licences, but that it would honour existing ones.
It comes as experts warn that Britain runs the risk of soaring energy prices and potential fuel shortages this winter, as Donald Trump’s war in Iran upends international energy markets.
Jackdaw could begin production this winter if approved, as much of its infrastructure is already in place.
The gas field is 150 miles east of Aberdeen. It could produce enough energy to heat more than 1.4 million homes at peak production.
Rosebank, near the Shetlands, meanwhile, is the UK’s last major undeveloped oil site. It is believed to contain up to 300-500 million barrels of oil and some gas.
At their peak, Rosebank and Jackdaw could provide 10pc of the UK’s oil and gas output.
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