UK Government Approves Jackdaw Gas Field Drilling in North Sea
Decision follows legal challenges and public consultations, reigniting debate over energy security and climate commitments.
Callum Smith
The UK Government has approved plans to begin drilling in the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea.
The approval, granted Wednesday morning, follows a protracted legal battle. Scottish courts previously overturned drilling licenses for the field after environmental campaigners mounted a challenge.
A UK Supreme Court ruling mandated developers account for the climate impact of burning fossil fuels in planning applications. Fresh public consultations on the proposals closed in August.
Adura, a North Sea joint venture between Shell and Equinor, owns the Jackdaw gas field. The company commissioned a report claiming that rejecting the Jackdaw and Rosebank projects would cost the UK economy nearly £10.8bn over the next decade.
Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh confirmed the decision. She stated, "Following careful consideration of all relevant factors, I have agreed that the regulator can grant consent for gas to be produced at Jackdaw, which will begin to supply the UK with gas from this winter thanks to the highly skilled and vital North Sea workers."
Fahnbulleh added that the decision would "support the country’s energy security with homegrown gas this winter and help minimise the UK’s use of imported higher emission fuels as we continue our transition to renewables and nuclear." She also asserted, "The decision is compatible with our legally binding climate commitments, and we remain resolute in ending new licences for oil and gas and achieving net zero by 2050."
The previous Conservative government had halted the project due to a legal challenge. Andy Burnham claims the approval of the Jackdaw gas field will "protect hundreds of jobs and help keep millions of homes warm" this winter.
Protect hundreds of jobs and help keep millions of homes warm this winter.
The 2024 Labour manifesto committed to issuing no new oil and gas licenses for the North Sea. However, proponents of Jackdaw and Rosebank within the Labour party argue neither are new fossil fuel fields, given the wheels were in motion to tap them ahead of Labour coming to power and their previous approval in 2022.
Adura claims the Jackdaw gas field could deliver around 6% of UK North Sea gas production. In contrast, Tessa Khan claims Jackdaw will provide around just 2% of the UK's gas demand for roughly 10 years.
A decision on the Rosebank oil field, the largest untapped oil field in the North Sea, will take "a bit longer," according to Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh. Both Jackdaw and Rosebank were initially approved in 2022 but were subsequently overturned by Scottish courts.