UK GOVERNMENT PREPARES JACKDAW GAS FIELD DECISION

The UK government is expected to announce a decision on the Jackdaw gas field on Wednesday, with approval widely anticipated in Westminster. Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh is expected to address MPs that afternoon. Fahnbulleh and Chancellor John Healy are also due to visit the North East for the announcement. The government is expected to defer a decision on Rosebank, an oil field north-west of Shetland. Jackdaw lies about 150 miles east of Aberdeen.

The previous Conservative government approved Jackdaw and Rosebank in 2022 and 2023 respectively. Last year, the Court of Session in Edinburgh ruled those approvals unlawful because ministers had not considered the climate impact of burning the oil and gas the fields would produce. Adura, a joint venture between Shell and Norway’s Equinor, subsequently reapplied for approval of Jackdaw. Adura estimates that the field could account for about 6% of UK North Sea gas production, enough to heat 1.4 million homes. Its operators say they could connect the field to the UK network within months.

Labour’s 2024 manifesto pledged against issuing new North Sea oil and gas licences while honouring existing licences. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has called for a “pragmatic approach” to domestic production, saying: “We won’t be able to stop using oil and gas for some time.” Industry bodies say production at Jackdaw and Rosebank would support jobs and improve UK energy security. Environmental groups dispute the energy security benefits and say further drilling would hinder efforts to cut carbon emissions. They also argue that a faster move to greener technologies would better support jobs.