UK approves long-delayed Jackdaw gas field
EQNR•Britain approved the Jackdaw North Sea gas field, which its operator Adura says could produce up to 40,000 barrels of oil equivalent of natural gas per day at peak output. Production could begin this winter.
1. Approval after legal challenge
Britain approved the Jackdaw North Sea gas field, ending years of legal and political wrangling. The previous government approved it in 2022, but a 2025 court ruling required fresh government consent that considers emissions from burning the extracted hydrocarbons.
2. Production and energy debate
Adura, the joint venture between Shell and Equinor that operates the project, has said Jackdaw will produce up to 40,000 barrels of oil equivalent of natural gas per day at peak output. Production could begin this winter because most necessary infrastructure is already in place. The approval comes as the government faces pressure to bolster energy security and criticism from climate activists over new fossil fuel projects.
