UK set to approve Jackdaw gas field after legal delays

The UK government is set to give the go-ahead for the Jackdaw gas field off the coast of Aberdeen, according to government and industry sources. Approval could come as soon as mid-September, just before Parliament breaks for party conference season. The project has been delayed by a legal ruling in Scotland after environmental groups challenged the original consent process.

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Jackdaw was approved by the former Conservative government in 2022, but the Court of Session in Edinburgh later ruled that the decision had been unlawful because climate impacts had not been fully taken into account. A judge ordered more detailed climate assessments to be published, and updated estimates were put out for consultation in July. The field is operated by Adura, a joint venture between Shell and Equinor, and the Aberdeen-based company Ithaca owns a stake in Rosebank, another North Sea project linked to the same legal dispute.

The project has become a test case for how the UK balances energy security, climate policy and North Sea investment. Jackdaw's owner says the field could supply up to 6% of UK gas demand at peak production, while environmental groups say the figure is closer to 2%. Adura has estimated that Jackdaw could produce 35.8 million tonnes of carbon over its 11-year lifetime, although it says a more likely estimate is 23.6 million tonnes.

The legal challenge around Jackdaw followed similar action over Rosebank, which was also approved in 2023 and later found to have been unlawfully consented to for the same reason. Campaigners argue that new drilling is incompatible with efforts to cut emissions, while industry bodies say domestic production can support jobs and reduce reliance on overseas supplies. The debate has intensified as governments across Europe face pressure to secure energy supplies while meeting climate targets.

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For ministers, the timing matters because a fresh approval would signal how the government intends to handle major fossil fuel projects after the court rulings. It would also be closely watched by investors, campaigners and North Sea operators, given the scale of the remaining reserves and the legal scrutiny around climate assessments. The decision could shape expectations for other energy projects that require similar environmental sign-off.

What remains unclear is whether approval will be confirmed in the expected timeframe and whether further legal action will follow. It is also not yet clear how the government will frame the decision alongside its wider climate commitments. The next key point to watch is whether the updated assessments are accepted as sufficient to clear the project for development.

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