Decision on North Sea Jackdaw gas field expected as Rosebank verdict waits

The UK government is preparing to say whether the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea can proceed, ending months of delay over one of the country's most contested energy projects, BBC News reports. Several Whitehall sources indicated the announcement would come on Wednesday morning, with Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh expected to speak to MPs later that day.

Westminster widely expects Jackdaw to be approved. A separate ruling on the Rosebank oil field off Shetland is not thought to be imminent.

Two fields, one long dispute

Jackdaw lies about 150 miles east of Aberdeen. Its operators say the field could be linked to the UK gas network within months. Rosebank, roughly 80 miles north-west of Shetland, is described as Britain's largest untapped oil field and would also yield some gas.

The previous Conservative government granted licences for the two sites in 2022 and 2023. Environmental groups challenged them, and the Court of Session in Edinburgh later found the approvals unlawful because the climate impact of burning the extracted fuel had not been considered. That ruling sent both projects back for a fresh decision.

The political backdrop

Labour's 2024 manifesto ruled out new North Sea oil and gas licences while promising to honour existing ones, a category that includes Jackdaw. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has repeatedly called for a "flexible" approach to energy and is believed to favour more drilling where licences are already in place.

The arguments remain sharply divided:

• Industry bodies say production would create jobs and strengthen energy security at a time when overseas conflicts threaten supply.
• Environmental campaigners say further drilling would undermine efforts to cut carbon emissions, would not protect energy security, and that a faster move to greener technology would better support employment.

What it means for business

For companies across the energy supply chain, from offshore services to engineering and logistics, the decision offers a signal of how the government intends to treat existing North Sea licences. A clear outcome on Jackdaw could ease some uncertainty for investment planning, while a continued wait on Rosebank leaves a significant question open for firms tied to the sector and for those positioning around the shift to lower-carbon energy.