UK Government to Approve Jackdaw Gas Field
Source reports published 20 Oct 2026, 10:00 am – 21 Oct 2026, 3:56 am AEST
The UK government is expected to approve the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea, a decision that will disappoint climate campaigners and aligns with Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s approach to energy security. The approval follows a lengthy period of deliberation and a legal challenge regarding environmental approvals.
What happened
- The UK government, led by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, is scheduled to announce the approval of the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea on Wednesday.
- Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh and Chancellor John Healey will make the announcement from Aberdeen.
- This decision follows a year of deliberations and a legal challenge regarding the field’s environmental approval.
- Shell and Equinor, who operate the field, will benefit from the approval.
- Tessa Khan, executive director of Uplift, stated that Jackdaw will only account for 2% of gas demand for approximately 10 years and won’t halt the decline in North Sea jobs.
- Labour’s 2024 manifesto pledged not to issue new oil and gas licenses, but Burnham has taken a ‘pragmatic approach’ influenced by pressure from Donald Trump, prioritizing energy security during a period of economic difficulty.
Original reporting
- BBC: UK government to make Jackdaw gas field announcement
2026-10-20T17:33:42.831000+00:00 - Guardian: Jackdaw North Sea gasfield to get go-ahead in blow to climate campaigners
2026-10-20T00:00:00+00:00 - Sky News: Controversial Jackdaw gas field expected to be approved
2026-10-20T17:56:00+00:00