UK approves Jackdaw gas production, drawing climate criticism

The UK government has approved production from the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea, saying it could begin supplying homes and businesses by the end of this month. The decision drew support from oil and gas workers and sharp criticism from environmental groups, which say it will not lower energy bills or help meet climate goals.

Jackdaw lies about 150 miles (241km) east of Aberdeen. Its operator, Adura, a joint venture between Shell and Norway’s state energy firm Equinor, says the field will provide about 6% of UK gas production, enough to supply 1.4 million homes. The BBC reported that, once imports are included, that represents about 2% of total UK gas demand.

The gas will be processed at the existing Shearwater platform before being piped to the St Fergus terminal in Aberdeenshire. Over Jackdaw’s expected 11-year lifespan, the government says the project will protect hundreds of jobs and add £2.9 billion to the economy.

Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh said the decision would help reduce reliance on imported fuels with higher emissions while the UK moves toward renewable and nuclear energy. She said it was compatible with the country’s climate commitments, including net zero emissions by 2050, and that the government remained committed to ending new oil and gas licences.

Fahnbulleh was clear that Jackdaw would not cut household bills. “That was not a consideration in the decision because it won’t mean cheaper bills. This was about energy security,” she told LBC, according to Al Jazeera. The BBC reported that she also said it would not lower bills this winter.

Alongside the approval, the government announced a New Energy Wealth Fund with an initial £2 billion to invest in renewable and low-carbon projects. It plans to use tax revenue from oil and gas extraction to support the fund.

At Prime Minister’s Questions, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Prime Minister Andy Burnham of “dithering” over Jackdaw and urged him to repeal the ban on new oil and gas licences. Burnham said the previous Conservative government had “messed up” the original decision by failing to properly consider climate obligations. He also said he had asked ministers to examine whether standing charges could be removed from gas bills.

Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney welcomed the prospect of more certainty for northeast Scotland but said the economic benefits should be felt locally. He called for the new fund to prioritize offshore renewables in the region. Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay called the approval a victory for oil and gas workers, while Aberdeen business leaders and unions also welcomed it, the BBC reported.

Opponents called the approval “climate vandalism.” Al Jazeera reported that Green Party leader Zack Polanski used the phrase, while the BBC quoted Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer using it. Greenpeace said Jackdaw would not meaningfully improve energy security; Oxfam said it undermined the UK’s climate commitments.

Jackdaw and the proposed Rosebank oil field previously received production consent, but a Scottish court ruled in January 2025 that those approvals were unlawful because their climate assessments had not adequately addressed emissions from burning the fuel. Preparatory work was allowed to continue while developers prepared new assessments. No decision has been made on production at Rosebank, which the BBC says holds an estimated 300 million to 500 million barrels of oil.