UK gives green light to contested Jackdaw gas field Unions and industry have welcomed the decision, while environmental campaigners say it will drive up emissions and do nothing to lower household bills. The UK government has approved drilling at the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea, arguing that the project will strengthen the country's energy security as the war in Iran pushes up prices. The site lies around 240 kilometres (150 miles) east of Aberdeen.
Wednesday's decision ends months of uncertainty about its future after a court ruling forced the developers to seek approval again. Ministers say Jackdaw will begin supplying gas to homes and businesses within weeks. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has faced pressure from US President Donald Trump to expand fossil fuel extraction in British waters.
He said the field would "protect hundreds of jobs and help keep millions of homes warm this winter". "At a time when people are really struggling, it's right that we look in a responsible way at maximising the existing energy reserves we have in Britain that could help," Burnham said. "We're committed to moving towards renewable energy and reaching net zero by 2050.
But even on our ambitious climate path, we'll still require oil and gas as part of our energy needs for decades to come," he added. "That's why we're taking a pragmatic approach to the North Sea." The decision exposes a long-running tension within the UK's governing party. Its climate commitments sit uneasily alongside demands to increase domestic supply and ease the energy bills that are squeezing household budgets.
When Labour returned to power in 2024 under then-leader Keir Starmer, it pledged not to grant any new oil and gas licences as part of a broader shift towards renewables. Supporters of the project say Jackdaw does not break that promise. The field already has infrastructure in place and was first approved by the previous Conservative government, as was the Rosebank oil field west of Shetland.
Both approvals were later challenged in court. Early last year, a Scottish court ruled that they had failed to take into account the emissions produced when the extracted fuel is eventually burned. That ruling required both projects to reapply.
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