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Environment & Climate

UK government reportedly set to approve North Sea Jackdaw gas field in September

A final ministerial decision approaches for the offshore project following court-ordered climate assessments and a public consultation.

Updated Sep 3, 2026 · 23:18 UTC1 reports

The short version

  • Government and industry sources indicate the UK government may approve the offshore Jackdaw gas field off Aberdeen as early as mid-September.
  • The project was initially cleared in 2022 but stalled when a Scottish court ruled that downstream emissions from burning the gas had not been properly assessed.
  • Operator Adura says the nearly finished field could supply UK gas this winter, though environmental groups argue approval undermines climate targets without reducing energy bills.
  • Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh is expected to issue a formal decision in due course following a recently closed public consultation.

Key facts

  • The Jackdaw gas field, operated by the Shell and Equinor joint venture Adura, is reportedly positioned for UK approval as early as mid-September according to government and industry sources.[BBC News]
  • The project was delayed after the Court of Session in Edinburgh determined that prior approvals for Jackdaw and the Rosebank oil field failed to consider the climate impact of combusting the extracted fuels.[BBC News]
  • Adura reports that Jackdaw is 99% built and could begin supplying domestic gas by winter if approved promptly.[BBC News]
  • Projections of Jackdaw's lifetime emissions diverge, with Adura estimating 23.6 million tonnes of carbon and energy firm Ithaca estimating 35.8 million tonnes over its 11-year lifespan.[BBC News]
  • A public consultation evaluating updated environmental assessments for both Jackdaw and Rosebank concluded in August, leaving the final verdict to Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh.[BBC News]

What remains uncertain

  • Ministers have not confirmed an official timetable for Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh's determination, and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero declined to comment on speculation.[BBC News]
  • Estimates of Jackdaw's potential contribution to UK gas demand differ sharply between the field operator, which projects up to 6% at peak production, and environmental groups, which estimate only 2%.[BBC News]

Sources