The government has dismissed as “unfounded speculation” reports that Energy Secretary Ed Miliband is poised to approve the first major North Sea oil and gas field project in nearly a decade. The Jackdaw gas field off Aberdeen has been under review following a Supreme Court ruling in 2024 that required consideration of downstream emissions in planning decisions.
A government spokesperson said: “We cannot comment on live planning decisions, and these decisions will be made in an appropriate and timely manner, after the last government’s plans were found to be unlawful.” The denial comes amid soaring oil prices due to Iran’s blockade of tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, exacerbating the energy crisis.
The Jackdaw project, previously halted after a successful environmental challenge at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, is being reassessed by the Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (Opred) after new information was submitted. At peak production, it is expected to contribute about 6.5% of UK continental shelf gas output, enough to heat over 1.4 million homes.
Energy experts have urged approval. Former BP chief Lord John Browne told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We need all forms of energy... The question of the North Sea, there are a couple of fields which are partly developed. They should be fully developed and go ahead.” The Offshore Energies UK trade association also called for approval, with policy director Enrique Cornejo stating: “As the second largest oil and gas producer in Europe, this should include the UK.”
The International Monetary Fund has warned that the UK faces one of the largest shocks from the Middle East conflict due to its reliance on gas-fired power, comparing rising prices to a “large sudden tax on income” for families.
