UK Government Approves North Sea Jackdaw Gas Field, Drawing Sharp Criticism from Greens and Climate Groups

London: The UK government on Wednesday approved the start of gas production at the Jackdaw field in the North Sea, ending months of uncertainty over a project that had earlier been halted by a Scottish court over its climate impact. Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh agreed that the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) could grant consent for production. Gas is expected to begin reaching British homes and businesses by the end of this month.

The field lies about 140 miles east of Aberdeen. It is already licensed, and the regulator’s consent now allows the developer to begin operations. Owner Adura says Jackdaw could deliver around 6 percent of UK North Sea gas production over its expected 11-year lifespan. The company describes the project as a £2.1 billion investment capable of heating the equivalent of about 1.4 million homes at peak output. The government says it will protect hundreds of jobs and add billions of pounds to the economy.

Announcing the decision, Fahnbulleh said it had been taken after careful consideration of all relevant factors. She said it would strengthen energy security with domestically produced gas this winter and reduce reliance on imported, higher-emission fuels while the country continues its transition to renewables and nuclear power.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham defended the move. He said the government remains committed to renewable energy and to reaching net zero by 2050, but that Britain will still need oil and gas for decades to come, and that making responsible use of existing domestic reserves is justified while households are struggling. Burnham has also faced calls from US President Donald Trump for more drilling in UK waters.

Alongside the approval, the government announced a new Energy Wealth Fund that will channel North Sea tax revenues into renewable energy and the wider green transition, with initial funding reported at £2 billion. The fund is widely seen as an attempt to reassure Labour MPs and left-leaning voters unhappy with the decision.

The approval drew strong criticism. Green Party leader Zack Polanski called it “climate vandalism” and argued it would do nothing to bring down energy bills. Greenpeace UK said the decision showed the continuing influence of the fossil fuel lobby on energy policy, and argued the project would neither lower bills nor improve energy security and would create only 27 full-time jobs. Climate campaigners staged a protest outside the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero in London after the announcement.

Industry groups welcomed the decision. Adura called it an important step for the future of UK energy, and Future Energy Networks said domestically produced gas strengthens Britain’s energy security at a time of global instability.

A separate decision on Rosebank, the largest untapped oil field in the North Sea, is still pending. Fahnbulleh said it would take somewhat longer. Adura said it believes the case for approving Rosebank is equally strong.