Politics · United Kingdom · 1 hr ago
UK government set to announce decision on Jackdaw gas field
The UK government is expected to announce its decision on the Jackdaw gas field on Wednesday.
Jackdaw is a proposed gas project about 150 miles east of Aberdeen, in the North Sea.
The previous Conservative government approved it, but a court ruled that the approval was unlawful because it did not account for the climate impact of burning the gas.
Ministers must now reconsider the project, with the Energy Secretary saying a decision is imminent; the government has not confirmed the outcome.
Supporters say drilling could create jobs and help energy security, while environmental groups argue it would increase emissions and oppose approval.
A decision on the separate Rosebank oil field will take longer, according to the Energy Secretary.
The UK government says a decision on the Jackdaw gas field is imminent, while a decision on Rosebank will take longer.
Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh said the decisions may be announced separately.
Both projects were approved by the previous Conservative government, but a court ruled that their approvals had not properly accounted for the climate impact of burning the extracted oil and gas.
Environmental groups oppose further drilling, while industry bodies say the projects would support jobs and UK energy security.
Jackdaw is about 150 miles east of Aberdeen, and Rosebank is about 80 miles north-west of Shetland.
- Who
- The UK government, including Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh, is considering the projects.
- What
- The government says a decision on the Jackdaw gas field is imminent. A decision on the Rosebank oil field will take longer.
- When
- Fahnbulleh said the Jackdaw decision is imminent; the government is expected to announce its decision on Wednesday, according to the Independent.
- Where
- The projects are in the North Sea: Jackdaw is about 150 miles east of Aberdeen, and Rosebank is about 80 miles north-west of Shetland.
- Why
- The government is reconsidering the projects after a court ruled their approvals had not accounted for the climate impact of burning the extracted oil and gas.
Environmental groups
Industry bodies and project proponents
Climate impact
Environmental groups
More drilling would increase planet-warming emissions and hamper efforts to cut them.
Industry bodies and project proponents
Starting production would provide jobs and improve the UK's energy security.
Approval
Environmental groups
The government should refuse consent for the projects.
Industry bodies and project proponents
The projects should proceed, with proponents arguing they are not new fossil fuel fields.
The Conservative UK government granted licences for the fields.
The Court of Session in Edinburgh ruled the fields had been unlawfully approved because climate impacts from burning the extracted oil and gas had not been considered.
Labour's manifesto committed to issuing no new oil and gas licences for the North Sea.
Fahnbulleh said a decision on Jackdaw was imminent and a decision on Rosebank would take longer.
The government is expected to announce its decision on Jackdaw, according to the Independent.
- Jackdaw location
- About 150 miles (241.4km) east of Aberdeen
- Rosebank location
- About 80 miles (128.7km) north-west of Shetland
- Jackdaw decision
- Described by Fahnbulleh as imminent
- Rosebank decision
- Expected to take a bit longer
- Rosebank status
- Britain's largest untapped oil field
- Manifesto commitment
- Labour's 2024 manifesto pledged no new North Sea oil and gas licences
5 sources
Jackdaw North Sea gasfield to get go-ahead in blow to climate campaigners
UK government to make Jackdaw gas field announcement
Government to announce long-awaited decision on Jackdaw gas field
Government being ‘cautious’ about public announcements on Jackdaw and Rosebank
Jackdaw decision looms as clean energy investment case stacks up
What people are saying
imminent
a bit longer
we don’t want to see further delay as a result of more court action.
This Government was elected on a promise to stop new oil and gas – that means holding the line on Rosebank.