ABERDEEN — The UK government is expected to approve the Jackdaw gas field off the coast of Aberdeen within weeks, according to government and industry sources.
A decision could come as soon as mid-September, before Parliament breaks for party conference season. The North Sea project was first approved in 2022 under the former Conservative government, but that consent was later delayed by a Scottish court ruling after environmental groups argued the climate impact had not been properly assessed.
Jackdaw’s owner says the field could account for about 6% of UK gas supply, while campaigners put the figure at around 2%.
How the Jackdaw decision returned after the court challenge
The project has been at the centre of a long-running legal dispute since campaigners challenged the original approval in 2022. A separate challenge was also brought over the Rosebank oil field off Shetland, which was approved in 2023.
Last year, the Court of Session in Edinburgh ruled that both Jackdaw and Rosebank had been unlawfully approved because ministers had not taken into account the climate impact of burning the oil and gas that would be extracted.
A judge ordered more detailed climate assessments to be published, and those updated estimates were put out for consultation in July. That process closed in August, leaving the final decision with Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh.
Speaking in the House of Commons on Thursday, Energy Minister Kate White said the Secretary of State would take separate decisions on Jackdaw and Rosebank, but gave no indication of timing.
What Adura says the field could produce and emit
Jackdaw is operated by Adura, a joint venture between Shell and Norway’s Equinor. The same company also operates Rosebank, alongside Aberdeen-based Ithaca, which owns a 20% stake in that field.
Adura has estimated that Jackdaw could produce 35.8 million tonnes of carbon over an 11-year lifespan, equal to about 90% of Scotland’s emissions in 2023. It says a more likely figure is 23.6 million tonnes, or about 60% of that year’s Scottish total.
The company also says that if approval comes in September, Jackdaw could begin supplying gas to UK homes by this winter because construction is already 99% complete. Adura argues the field’s output would help extend the life of North Sea infrastructure, including the Shearwater hub, which processes hydrocarbons before sending them to refineries and terminals on the coast.
Supporters say domestic gas would aid energy security, while critics oppose more drilling
Supporters of the project argue that new domestic production would support jobs and strengthen energy security at a time when overseas conflict has pushed up supply concerns. They also point to the fact that almost all North Sea gas is used in the UK, unlike much North Sea oil, which is often exported and then brought back in refined form.
The UK remains heavily dependent on imports, with more than 60% of gas coming from Norway and the United States. Wholesale natural gas prices have risen this year to a three-year high, and European storage levels are lower than usual because countries delayed stockpiling during the summer.
Environmental groups say more drilling would not lower energy bills and would do little to improve supply. Tessa Khan of Uplift, which brought the legal challenge, said more North Sea extraction would make no meaningful difference and would run counter to the science on global warming.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said it does not comment on speculation, but added that any decision would consider all relevant evidence, including environmental assessments and public representations.
What the wider North Sea debate means for UK households and industry
Industry voices say additional domestic gas could reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels, even if it would not materially cut bills. Chris O’Shea, chief executive of British Gas owner Centrica, said basic economics suggested extra supply should put some downward pressure on prices, while also bringing more tax revenue to the government.
He argued that domestic extraction would produce lower greenhouse gas emissions than liquefied natural gas imported from abroad, because LNG must be shipped, liquefied and regasified before it reaches the UK market.
Campaigners reject that case, saying the country should move faster towards cleaner technologies and protect jobs through transition rather than new drilling. The government, however, has said the North Sea remains a vital national asset and that oil and gas will continue to play an important role in the energy system for decades alongside clean power.
For now, the decision on Jackdaw sits with ministers after months of consultation, with the timing of any announcement still unconfirmed.
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