Jackdaw gas field set for approval in coming weeks, sources say

newsSep 4, 2026151,256

The UK government is set to approve the controversial Jackdaw gas field off the coast of Aberdeen as soon as mid-September, the BBC understands. Jackdaw was initially approved in 2022 but a Scottish Court of Session ruling voided that consent after judges found ministers had not fully considered the climate impact, delaying the project until more detailed assessments were published for consultation in July. Both Jackdaw and the nearby Rosebank field are operated by Adura, a joint venture of Shell and Equinor; Ithaca owns 20 percent of Rosebank. Adura estimates Jackdaw could emit 35.8 million tonnes of carbon over an 11-year life, or a more likely 23.6 million tonnes, figures campaigners say make the project incompatible with climate goals. Adura says Jackdaw would account for 6 percent of UK gas output at peak production while environmental groups say it would supply about 2 percent of UK use once imports are included. The company says construction is 99 percent complete and, if ministers approve in September, the field could begin delivering gas to UK homes this winter. The decision now rests with Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh, with ministers treating Jackdaw and Rosebank as separate decisions.

Zack Polanski

@zackpolanski.bsky.social

This summer Britain burnt. 3000 people died from the heat. Yet this Government is drilling for more gas, despite scientist warnings & it won't make a difference to bills in the UK. We need to double down on renewables, not bend to the wishes of fossil fuel bosses. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

11266h ago

Sarah Louise Ellis 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈♥️⭐🇵🇸🇱🇧🇮🇷15

The UK is now the lapdog of the super rich right-wing Trumpian capitalists, hell bent on destruction of the planet, through greed, lack of education and knowledge, war and stupidity. There's only one planet. We need to protect it. Oil and gas are NOT the answer and should be left in the ground.

James Flynn8

Infinite growth on a finite planet is biophysically impossible and drives ecological collapse.

Usman-Smith7

Follow the money. It's not going to you. It's not going to me. It's going to them. It's a stark illustration of who runs a country. It's every country. It's only going to change it we force them to change it. That remains a task that would take decades. We don't have the patience. Nor does nature.

Tony7

Andy Burn'em didn't save us or Labour.

Utter Flannel6

The King of the North Sea Oil is a corrupt, Fossil-Fuel gimp

Alexander Woywodt4

So true. How could anybody think that more oil and gas could be the solution?

Quoting this

Tonksey129

If Burnham approves this then all his talk is just that. Just like Starmer.

Mike Bailey18

Polanski is the only political leader who demands an end to fossil fuel expansion. Put our children’s future ahead of short term advantage for yourself Andy Burnham

Kevin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇪🇺💚 #VoteGreen8

100% THIS!! 👇 #Labour are only drilling for more oil & gas, despite warnings & people dying, because of the massive bungs the fossil fuel industry are chucking their way. Our govt is corrupt. We need fresh politics that care for the people & the planet. That isn't from Labour, but the #GreenParty.

Barry Burns6

Andy Burnham’s revolutionary, progressive, change1everything Labour government has really shaken up the status quo. What a radical UK we’ve quickly become. 🪊

Dreamliner Ontario6

Leave. It. In. The. Ground.

Cab Davidson5

Note that 3000 is an early and preliminary estimate. The death toll due to the new normal for our summers will be far higher, and will happen again, and again, and again. And it will only get worse.

Baby octopus5

Andy Burn-em thinks the hottest summer ever in Britain wasn't hot enough

Viktor 🇵🇸🍉🦘🦘🪃5

@albomp.bsky.social @australianlabor.bsky.social I hope you are taking notes...

Atul Haria (immigrant)3

This is completely insane. If politicians can't get the absolute basics right we are totally fucked. What for, so some rich people can get even richer?

Dr Alan Nixon3

#ClimateReality, brought to you by #ClimateCriminals.

Sarah Hopewell

@sarahhopewell.bsky.social

When I turned on Radio 4 today, the first story I heard was about rescue efforts in Nepal following the devastating glacial collapse. Next was a story that Jackdaw gas field is likely to be approved. Then a story that UK residents will be told to stock up in preparation for future climate disasters.

295h ago

Prof Bill McGuire

@profbillmcguire.bsky.social

The government simultaneously telling people to stock up on food, and going ahead with extracting more fossil fuels from the North Sea www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... The fact that they are incapable of connecting the two, shows they haven't a clue about what climate breakdown actually means

302h ago

Quoting this

Redkite Traveller3

This shows burnham is all mouth and tshirt

LiLBaz

@lilbazza.bsky.social

This summer was the hottest on record. Super El niño is likely to be largest in 1000 years so next summer is guaranteed to blow that record heat to pieces. The wake up call to *finally* cancel all new fossil fuel extraction, you might think? Pft. Real Sensibles can both sides & compromise with that!

James Murray @james-bg.bsky.social

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Approval for Jackdaw would be bad for the climate. but important to note it's very different to Rosebank. The projected 11 vear lifespan and relativelv small scale means it should be possible for the government to fit it into its net zero by 2050 targets

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article..
JACKDAW 30/2a
BBCNEWS

Jackdaw gas field set to be approved as soon as mid-September sources say
The government is set to give the go-ahead for the gas field off the coast of Aberdeen, the BBC u...
@www.bbc.co.uk

114h ago

Hugh Aldersey-Williams

@hoooaw.bsky.social

But fine to give the go ahead to the Jackdaw gas field apparently

85h ago

James Bullock

@jmbecologist.bsky.social

Why is environmental protest necessary? Because Government won’t listen to the science Exploitation of the Jackdaw gasfield by overseas businesses will provide a handful of jobs & will not help energy security But it will push us further into climate catastrophe www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

63h ago

mimij9.bsky.social

@mimij9.bsky.social

Miatta Fahnbulleh, the energy secretary, will give her recommendation to approve the Jackdaw field off the coast of Aberdeen as soon as next week, with formal approval following as soon as a week after. Very very disappointing.

103h ago

Simon Ferrigno

@brexcyclopaedia.bsky.social

"Climate crisis? I know", said the Reform and anti-net zero affeared, trump appeasing govt, "let's drill more gas instead" www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

55h ago

James Austin

@jamesdaustin.bsky.social

Also easier to politically justify given it's a gas field and thus meets a ongoing UK need. I've suspected for a while the Govt would split the differance and approve Jackdaw/Not Roaebank. I broadly think this is playing too clever by half but.... its better

65h ago

James Murray2

It’s much easier to justify within the technicalities of the carbon budget system, but not sure how much of a distinction the public will make. The political risk (beyond the carbon emissions) is they end up angering everyone.

Mark O’Neill 🐻1

There is a (weak) argument for the gas field as an emergency supply source (though even then it's a limited utility). The oil field however is a nonsense.

Claire S (UK not USA)1

I'm just trying to imagine the response if Starmer did this, think we both know it would be wall to wall bashing. Bad move by Burnham if he does this, IMHO.

James Murray

@james-bg.bsky.social

Approval for Jackdaw would be bad for the climate, but important to note it’s very different to Rosebank. The projected 11 year lifespan and relatively small scale means it should be possible for the government to fit it into its net zero by 2050 targets. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

85h ago

James Murray5

That said, it will have to show how it intends to decarbonise faster in other parts of the economy to stay within the UK’s carbon budgets for the late 2030s and/or start to deliver carbon removals at scale. Currently, in areas like CCS, heat pumps, etc government is off track to meet these targets.

Jason Scott-Warren1

but net zero by 2050 is (as Kevin Anderson has stated) an accounting scam which will not prevent earth systems collapse.

Kiran Stacey

@kiranstacey.bsky.social

BREAKING: Massive Jackdaw gas field to be approved as soon as next Monday, sources say (as per @simonjackbbc.bsky.social). Ministers still waiting for an assessment for Rosebank, but are looking for ways to spend potential revenues from it on green projects. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

33h ago

Glostermeteor 🔶

@glostermeteor.bsky.social

What on earth is Burnham playing at? This gas field will do nothing to reduce gas prices, will do v little to create jobs, so why do it other to play to the Reform lobby? In this regard Burnham is worse than Starmer. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

52h ago

Friends of the Earth Scotland 🌍

@foescot.bsky.social

New fossil fuels at Jackdaw means deadly new climate disasters.🧑‍🚒 It means more glacial melt in places like Nepal and extreme heatwaves that have killed thousands in the UK.🌡️ It is terrifying that the UK Govt would cave to demands of oil lobbyists rather than prioritising our collective safety.🛢️

BBC news screengrab of story with headline: "Controversial Jackdaw gas field set to be approved in weeks, sources say" above image of Jackdaw gas platform in the North Sea

34h ago

James McAsh

@jamesmcash.bsky.social

New gas drilling could be approved within weeks. This would be a climate disaster. The decision belongs to the Energy Secretary - our local MP for Peckham, Miatta Fahnbulleh. @miattafahnbulleh.bsky.social - please stand by your previous commitments. Reject Jackdaw! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

34h ago

Nolan Principles Matter. End the #GazaGenocide💔💙

@philildo.bsky.social

Morning all It seems UK treasury tax take is going to trump any environmental concerns🤔 It's not as if #FossilFuels are killing our capacity to live on planet earth 🤷 And after months of hogwash ref. UK bills ⬇️, #R4Today finally saying there's NO benefit for bill payers www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

35h ago

3 sources

bbc.co.ukJackdaw gas field set to be approved as soon as mid-September, sources say bbc.comJackdaw gas field set to be approved as soon as mid-September, sources say theguardian.comJackdaw gasfield set to be approved by ministers this month, sources say

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Jackdaw gas field set for approval in coming weeks, sources say

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