UK government to make Jackdaw gas field announcement
The long-awaited decision about the controversial North Sea field is expected on Wednesday morning.
The UK government is set to announce a decision on the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea, with the Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh slated to speak to MPs in the afternoon. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has emphasized the need for a flexible approach to energy and favors drilling in areas where licensing already exists in the North Sea.
Labour's 2024 manifesto promised not to issue new oil and gas licenses in the North Sea, but to honor existing ones, including Jackdaw. Both Jackdaw and Rosebank, a large untapped oil field off Shetland, have been the subject of intense debate, legal challenges, and public consultations. The government granted licenses for both fields in 2022 and 2023, sparking legal actions from environmental groups.
The Court of Session in Edinburgh ruled that Rosebank and Jackdaw had been unlawfully approved due to the government's failure to consider the climate impact of burning extracted oil and gas. Environmentalists argue that starting production would hinder efforts to reduce carbon emissions and would not protect energy security, advocating for a transition to greener technologies.
Industry bodies counter that starting production would create jobs and enhance UK energy security amid overseas supply threats.
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