UK approves long-delayed Jackdaw gas field
UNG•Britain approved the Jackdaw North Sea gas field, which is expected to begin supplying gas as early as the end of October. The government said the project could raise domestic gas production by around 6% at peak and announced a £2 billion initial contribution to a new Energy Wealth Fund.
1. Approval and expected supply
Britain approved the Jackdaw North Sea gas field after years of legal and political disputes. Energy Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh said it could start supplying British homes and businesses as early as the end of October, increase domestic gas production by around 6% at peak and support gas supply for up to 11 years.
2. Project and energy fund
Adura, a joint venture between Shell and Equinor that operates Jackdaw, has said the field could produce up to 40,000 barrels of oil equivalent of natural gas per day at peak output. Fahnbulleh also said the government would establish an Energy Wealth Fund with a £2 billion downpayment to reinvest oil and gas revenues into the climate transition.
3. Earlier consent challenged
The previous Conservative government approved the project in 2022, but climate activists challenged that decision in court. A 2025 ruling required fresh government consent that takes into account emissions from burning the fields’ hydrocarbons before operators could extract oil or gas.
