UK approves Jackdaw gas field, regulator consent still needed

The UK government approved the Jackdaw gas field on October 21, allowing the North Sea Transition Authority to grant consent for gas production after a court challenge overturned the project’s earlier approval. The regulator’s decision remains a required step before production can proceed. Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh said the government had agreed that the regulator could grant consent. The government said Jackdaw is expected to begin supplying gas from the end of October. Fahnbulleh said the project would not reduce household energy bills this winter, although she argued that domestic gas would contribute to energy security. Adura, the project operator, says Jackdaw could provide about 6% of UK North Sea gas production at peak output. Materials submitted for the project estimate a peak contribution of 6.5% of UK Continental Shelf gas production. The government has said the project would protect hundreds of jobs; campaigners have disputed its likely economic and energy-bill benefits. One campaign group has estimated that Jackdaw would meet about 2% of UK gas demand for roughly 10 years, a different measure from the project’s stated peak share of production. The...