The energy giant behind the controversial Rosebank oil field has vowed to fight for the project in court despite UK ministers dropping out of the legal battle.
Norwegian oil firm Equinor, which wants to drill the biggest untapped development in the North Sea off the coast of Shetland, said the project is “vital” for the UK’s energy security.
Meanwhile, Shell has also pledged to take on eco activists in the courtroom who are trying to block its Jackdaw gas field 150 miles off the Aberdeen coast.
It comes as campaigners led by Greenpeace have argued for a judicial review of both projects which were previously granted approval.
They received a major boost last month when Labour Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband withdrew support for the North Sea schemes and said the UK Government wouldn’t defend them in court.
Keir Starmer’s government previously vowed not to grant new oil and gas licences – although did pledge to honour existing licences.
The fossil fuels industry has claimed Labour’s approach will decimate tens of thousands of jobs in the North Sea workforce, predominantly in the north-east of Scotland.
It’s thought Rosebank could contain up to 500million barrels of oil. Activists claim it would emit more carbon than the world’s 28 poorest nations combined.
Confirming it will mount a legal defence to keep its licence, an Equinor spokesman said: “The Rosebank project is progressing according to plan. It is vital for UK investment, job creation and energy security.”
It comes after the UK Supreme Court gave a judgment in a separate case, known as the Finch ruling, which found the full emissions impacts of fossil fuel schemes should be taken into account before they’re approved, seen as a victory for climate campaigners.
A Shell spokesman said: “We accept the UK Supreme Court’s ruling in the Finch case, but will argue that Jackdaw is a vital project for UK energy security that is already well under way.
“Stopping the work is a highly complex process, with significant technical and safety issues now that infrastructure is in place and drilling has started in the North Sea.
“Jackdaw will provide fuel for UK customers – enough to heat 1.4million homes – strengthening energy independence for Britain, as other older gas fields reach the end of production.”
But Mel Evans, a climate team leader at Greenpeace UK, hit back: “Rosebank and Jackdaw will do nothing to help our energy security or bring down our bills.
“The oil and gas extracted will be sold on the international market, making Equinor and Shell further billions in profits.
“Both the government and the Supreme Court agree that you cannot ignore the emissions generated from burning fossil fuels. But Shell and Equinor are trying to hide this harm they’re doing to the planet.
“Equinor and Shell know that the consents for these fields are unlawful, but despite this, they say they will continue to develop them during this judicial review, putting people and the planet at risk.”
The Jackdaw case will be heard in the High Court of Justiciary in Edinburgh. Both cases are expected in November.
Tessa Khan of Uplift, which is also involved in the Rosebank case, said: “The government was right not to waste time and money trying to defend Rosebank.
“The interests of the public are not served by allowing the development of this oil field.
“Rosebank is a bad deal for Britain… because of huge tax breaks for new oil and gas drilling, the UK public would effectively cover a huge chunk of its development costs.
“Worse, Rosebank won’t provide long term security for oil and gas workers and their communities.
“Even with new fields being approved, jobs supported by the industry have more than halved in the past decade.
She added: “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.”
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