UK approves drilling at Jackdaw gas field in North Sea

The UK government has approved drilling at the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea, reviving a project delayed by legal challenges over its climate impact.

Energy Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh authorized the North Sea Transition Authority to grant consent, saying Jackdaw could begin supplying gas to British homes and businesses by the end of October. The government said the field could increase domestic gas production by about 6% at its peak, operate for up to 11 years and support hundreds of jobs.

Jackdaw, about 150 miles east of Aberdeen, is operated by Adura, a joint venture between Shell and Norway’s Equinor. Adura has said peak production could be equivalent to as much as 40,000 barrels of oil a day.

The previous Conservative government approved the project in 2022, but a Scottish court later blocked extraction after ruling that the approval had not adequately considered emissions produced when the gas is burned. A fresh consultation closed in August.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham described the decision as a pragmatic measure to strengthen domestic energy supplies while the country moves toward renewable energy and its 2050 net-zero target. The government also announced an Energy Wealth Fund with an initial £2 billion to direct oil and gas revenue toward cleaner energy.

Environmental groups condemned the approval, arguing that additional gas production would not substantially reduce household bills and would worsen climate change. A separate decision on the proposed Rosebank oil field is expected later.