{
  "id": 15877916,
  "title": "Energy: Britain permits new gas extraction in the North Sea – climate protectors are appalled",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/energie-gro-britannien-erlaubt-neue-gasforderung-in-der-nordsee",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-21T10:46:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/international/energie-grossbritannien-erlaubt-neue-gasfoerderung-in-der-nordsee/100263806.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "The British government has made a historic decision to approve a new gas extraction project in the North Sea, for the first time in years. This comes from Energi Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh who announced the Jackdaw field, located about 240 kilometers east of Aberdeen. The project, a joint venture by British oil firm Shell and Norwegian company Equinor, is set to commence production before Christmas. The approval has sparked controversy, as the Labour government had previously pledged to avoid granting new gas and oil drilling licenses in the North Sea. However, Jackdaw had already received permission under the Conservative predecessor administration. Following challenges from environmental activists and a court ruling in January 2025, the environmental impact of the project was once again evaluated. A similar review is pending for the Rosebank oil field off the Shetland Islands, with a decision yet to be made. Energy Minister Andy Burnham assured that the current approval would secure hundreds of jobs and help keep \"millions of households warm this winter\". Jackdaw is considered the largest undeveloped gas field in the North Sea, potentially producing around ten billion cubic meters of gas if fully exploited. High energy prices are the main reason behind the UK's inflation rate, which surged to 3.5 percent in September.",
  "summary": "The Labour government is opening up the Jackdaw field, and the Rosebank oil field off the Shetland Islands could follow. The aim is to preserve jobs and cut energy costs. Can this work?",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}