The UK government is set to approve the Jackdaw gas field project off the coast of Aberdeen within weeks, reversing a previous delay caused by a Scottish court ruling. Approval could come in mid-September, before Parliament breaks for party conferences. The project, operated by Adura – a joint venture between Shell and Equinor – was initially approved in 2022 but faced legal challenges from environmental groups who argued insufficient consideration was given to its climate impact.
The Jackdaw field is projected to account for 6% of UK gas output at peak production, according to its owner, while environmental groups estimate its contribution to actual UK gas *use*, factoring in imports, will be only 2%. Adura estimates the field could produce 35.8 million tonnes of carbon over its 11-year lifetime – equivalent to 90% of Scotland’s 2023 emissions – but suggests a more likely estimate is 23.6 million tonnes, or 60% of the 2023 figure.
The Court of Session in Edinburgh previously ruled that both Jackdaw and the Rosebank oil field were unlawfully approved due to a failure to adequately assess climate impacts. Updated climate assessments were published for consultation in July. Labour is now expected to approve the project, with some MPs emphasizing the importance of the field to jobs in the Aberdeen area and the UK’s energy security, particularly given overseas conflicts. Douglas Lumsden, a Conservative MP, stated that 1,000 jobs are being lost monthly in the UK oil and gas industry, and approval is needed to prevent further losses.
Environmental groups maintain that new drilling hinders efforts to cut carbon emissions, especially as extreme weather events increase globally. They also argue that accelerating the transition to greener technologies would better support jobs in the long term. Adura states that construction is 99% complete and gas could be delivered to UK homes this winter if approval is granted. The future of Jackdaw and Rosebank was subject to a public consultation that closed in August.
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