The UK government is expected to make a decision on the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea later this month, with government and industry sources indicating approval could come in mid-September.
The decision would be made shortly before Parliament breaks for the annual party conference season. Jackdaw was originally approved by the Conservative government in 2022 but was later blocked following a legal challenge over the project’s climate impact.
The field is operated by Adura, a joint venture between Shell and Norway’s Equinor. The company also operates the Rosebank oil field west of Shetland.
Adura says Jackdaw could provide around 6% of UK gas production at peak output. Environmental campaigners have argued that its contribution would be closer to 2% of UK demand when gas imports are included.
The project became subject to renewed scrutiny after the Court of Session in Edinburgh ruled in January 2025 that Jackdaw and Rosebank had been unlawfully approved. The court found that the government had failed to properly account for emissions created when the oil and gas produced by the projects were eventually burned.
Updated assessments were subsequently prepared and put out for public consultation in July. The consultation on Jackdaw and Rosebank ended in August, leaving Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh to make separate decisions on the two developments.
Energy Minister Kate White told MPs on September 3 that the consultation process had ended and that the energy secretary would make the decisions “in due course”, without giving a specific date.
Adura says Jackdaw’s construction is about 99% complete and that, if approval is granted this month, gas could begin reaching UK homes during the winter. Supporters of the project say its production could also help maintain other North Sea infrastructure, including the Shearwater production hub.
The project has become part of a wider debate over Britain’s energy security and dependence on imported gas. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has called for a pragmatic approach to domestic oil and gas, arguing that the UK will continue to need fossil fuels for some time.
More than 60% of the UK’s gas is imported, with Norway and the United States among its main suppliers. However, approval of Jackdaw would not necessarily lead to lower household energy bills because wholesale gas prices are determined by international markets.
Centrica chief executive Chris O’Shea said additional domestic production could reduce Britain’s reliance on imported fossil fuels, although he acknowledged that the effect on prices would be limited.
Environmental campaigner Tessa Khan of Uplift rejected the argument that new North Sea production would significantly improve energy security or reduce bills. She said increased drilling would make little meaningful difference to Britain’s energy supply.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has declined to comment on speculation about the timing of the decision. It said any decision would consider environmental assessments and representations received during the consultation.
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