Jackdaw approval is a step towards a grownup North Sea policy
Government decision is about how much oil and gas is sensible for UK to produce on the way to net zero Business live – latest updates Andy Burnham hit the nail on the (well)head in his first fortnight as prime minister when he said : “The question isn’t whether Britain will still be using oil and gas, the question is, where does it come from?” It was a nod towards several awkward energy facts.…
Prime Minister Andy Burnham emphasized the need for a pragmatic approach to UK energy sources in his early days as head of government, highlighting that oil and gas still account for 75% of the country's energy supply, with a significant portion still being imported. The Jackdaw gasfield, located 150 miles east of Aberdeen, has received approval to begin production ahead of winter.
This development aims to reduce the UK's reliance on imported liquefied natural gas, which currently accounts for 20% of gas imports. While Jackdaw is not a major production contributor, it represents a step towards a more balanced domestic energy mix and offers economic benefits through jobs, tax revenue, and energy security. The government's plan includes exploring additional "tie-back" gasfields, such as Tornado, to further diversify the country's energy sources.
However, the overall shift towards net zero remains the primary focus, with electrification and renewable energy sources playing a crucial role in the transition away from fossil fuels.
Written by urgent.news from Guardian Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.