UK government approves Jackdaw North Sea gas drilling project

Summarised from 6 outlets · 8 reports · Updated 21 Oct, 07:39 · Archive

The UK government has approved the Jackdaw gasfield in the North Sea, 150 miles east of Aberdeen, after more than a year of deliberation.

The UK government has approved the controversial Jackdaw gasfield in the North Sea on Wednesday, ending years of legal wrangling over the project. Located 150 miles east of Aberdeen, it is operated by Adura, a joint venture between Shell and Norway's state oil company Equinor. Energy secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh announced the decision, stating it would 'support the country's energy security with homegrown gas this winter' and help minimise use of 'imported higher emission fuels'.

The Jackdaw field was originally given a drilling licence in 2022 by the previous Conservative government. However, the High Court overturned the approval after legal challenges by environmental groups Greenpeace and Uplift, citing concerns over climate impact. The companies resubmitted their applications earlier this year with additional environmental information, which prompted the fresh deliberation.

At peak production, Jackdaw will account for approximately 6 per cent of North Sea gas production, making it one of the biggest undeveloped fields in the declining basin. The government said gas production will begin by the end of the month. However, environmental campaigners dispute its significance. Tessa Khan, executive director of Uplift, stated that 'Jackdaw will provide around just 2 per cent of our gas demand for roughly 10 years' and will be 'largely unmanned and operated remotely'.

Whilst Labour's 2024 election manifesto committed to banning new drilling licences in the North Sea, the government argues the approval does not breach this pledge because the licence was granted before it took office in 2024. Fahnbulleh said: '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.'

Prime Minister Andy Burnham welcomed the decision, saying it would 'protect hundreds of jobs and help keep millions of homes warm this winter'. Supporters of the project have argued it could create 3,500 jobs during construction and 880 over its lifetime, and generate billions in tax revenues.

The approval has provoked strong criticism from environmental campaigners. Danny Gross of Friends of the Earth said: 'Against this backdrop, there's nothing that justifies giving the go-ahead to a colossal new fossil fuel project in North Sea. The disconnect is absolutely maddening.' He argued that the project 'won't make a jot of difference to our energy bills, but it will fuel the climate chaos already unfurling in front of us.'

On household energy bills, the outlets agree the Jackdaw approval is unlikely to have much impact. Bills are determined by international gas prices, which have surged due to disruptions to global supplies including loss of Russian flows to Europe. Such global shocks are far too large for Jackdaw's relatively small output to outweigh.

A decision on the separate Rosebank oilfield, the other major project approved by the previous government and then challenged, is expected separately. Fahnbulleh indicated it would take 'a bit longer'. Donald Trump has previously urged the government to approve both projects.

How it is being reported

• UK government approves Jackdaw production in North Sea boostA major gas field in the North Sea has been re-approved by the government following years of legal rows with environment campaigners. The Jackdaw site, a large offshore natural gas field 150 miles east of Aberdeen, has received the official stamp of approval from the government and is expected to supply gas to the UK [...]City AM · 21 Oct, 07:29
• Government approves drilling in Jackdaw gas field in North SeaThe UK Government has approved plans to begin drilling in the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea.The Independent · 21 Oct, 07:14
• Government approves drilling at Jackdaw gas field in the North SeaThe UK Government has approved plans to begin drilling in the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea.Daily Mail · 21 Oct, 07:06
• BREAKING: Controversial Jackdaw gas field approved after years of legal wranglingEnergy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh has announced the controversial Jackdaw gas field, off the coast of Aberdeen, has been granted after a long-running legal sagaThe Mirror · 21 Oct, 07:02
• UK approves Jackdaw gasfield in North SeaDecision was widely expected after lobbying by Shell but will dismay environmental campaigners The UK government has approved the controversial Jackdaw gasfield in the North Sea, a widely expected move that will nonetheless dismay environmental campaigners and a number of Labour MPs. While Labour’s 2024 election manifesto committed to a ban on new drilling licences in the North Sea, the companies behind Jackdaw and the Rosebank oilfield project, which is being decided on separately, have sought environmental approval for existing licences. Continue reading...The Guardian · 21 Oct, 06:56
• Andy Burnham Hit By Angry Backlash As New Gas Drilling Approved In North SeaClimate activists outside the Houses of Parliament for a 'Stop Jackdaw' emergency demonstration in September. Andy Burnham has been hit an angry backlash from climate campaigners after his government gave the go-ahead for a new gas drilling operation to begin in the North Sea. Energy secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh announced on Wednesday that she has approved exploration at the Jackdaw gas field off the coast of Aberdeen. The project is one of two – alongside the Rosebank oil field – which were given the green light by the previous Conservative government but then halted because of a legal…HuffPost UK · 21 Oct, 06:11
• What does the UK’s approval of the Jackdaw gasfield mean?Decision has implications for household energy bills, the UK economy and the climate crisis Andy Burnham faces climate revolt after approval of North Sea gas drilling About four years and six energy secretaries after it was given the green light, the Jackdaw gasfield has been given consent to begin production 150 miles east of Aberdeen. So what does this long-awaited decision mean for the Labour party, household bills, the economy and the climate crisis? Continue reading...Guardian Business · 20 Oct, 19:58
• Jackdaw North Sea gasfield to get go-ahead in blow to climate campaignersMove signals Andy Burnham’s commitment to the North Sea industry but threatens to undermine Labour’s green credentials The Jackdaw gasfield will be given the go-ahead on Wednesday, in a move that signals Andy Burnham’s commitment to the North Sea fossil fuel industry but threatens to trigger a row with climate campaigners and Labour MPs. Miatta Fahnbulleh and John Healey, , the energy secretary and chancellor respectively, will make the announcement from Aberdeen on Wednesday morning after more than a year of deliberations over whether doing so would violate the UK’s climate commitments.…The Guardian · 20 Oct, 19:24

In this story: Andy Burnham · Miatta Fahnbulleh · Shell · Equinor · Adura · Greenpeace · Uplift · Aberdeen

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