UK authorizes gas production at Jackdaw field

Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh authorized the regulator to grant consent for gas production at the Jackdaw field in the North Sea, saying the project would support UK energy security and reduce reliance on higher-emission imports. The decision was announced on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, after consultations on the proposal closed in August. Fahnbulleh said Jackdaw gas would contribute to domestic supplies as the country transitions to renewable energy and nuclear power. She also said the project would not lower household energy bills this winter. The government has described the approval as compatible with its climate commitments and its goal of reaching net zero by 2050. Adura, which operates Jackdaw, said the project represents £2.1 billion in investment and could produce enough gas to heat the equivalent of around 1.4 million UK homes at peak output. Adura chief executive Neil McCulloch said the company’s attention would now turn to Rosebank, a separate North Sea project whose decision remains pending. Fahnbulleh said Rosebank would take longer to decide and distinguished it from Jackdaw because Rosebank produces oil for export, while Jackdaw gas is predominantly used...