Controversial Jackdaw gas field set to be approved in weeks, sources say
The UK government is expected to approve the controversial Jackdaw gas field project in the North Sea by mid-September. The project faces significant opposition from environmental groups who argue it fails to account for long-term climate impacts.
Why it matters
This decision highlights the ongoing tension between energy security needs and national climate change commitments in the UK.
Image caption, The Jackdaw gas platform and drilling rig stand east of Aberdeen in the North Sea
The UK government is set to give the go-ahead for a controversial new gas field off the coast of Aberdeen, the BBC understands.
Approval for the Jackdaw project could come as soon as mid-September, just before Parliament breaks for party conference season, according to government and industry sources.
The gas field was approved by the former Conservative government in 2022 but was delayed by a legal ruling from a Scottish court, after environmental groups successfully argued that consent was given without fully considering the climate impact.
Jackdaw's owner says it will provide gas to supply up to 6% of the UK's demand at peak production, but environmental groups say it will only supply 2%.
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