Prime Minister Andy Burnham has approved drilling of the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea, giving the development the green light on Wednesday following months of pressure from opposition parties and his own MPs.
The gas field was originally approved by the former Conservative government in 2022 but was delayed by a legal ruling from a Scottish court after environmental groups argued consent was given without fully considering the climate impact.
Prime Minister defends decision
Mr Burnham said: "I welcome the Energy Secretary’s decision, which will protect hundreds of jobs and help keep millions of homes warm this winter. At a time when people are really struggling, it's right that we look in a responsible way at maximising the existing energy reserves we have in Britain that could help."
He added: "We’re committed to moving towards renewable energy and reaching net zero by 2050. But even on our ambitious climate path, we’ll still require oil and gas as part of our energy needs for decades to come. That’s why we’re taking a pragmatic approach to the North Sea. We’re also establishing a new Energy Wealth Fund to invest in renewable energy, support the green transition and help reduce energy bills over the long-term."
Output and jobs impact
Jackdaw's owner said it will account for 6% of UK gas output when at peak production, but environmental groups say it will provide only 2% of UK use when imports are included. Mr Burnham is maintaining the Labour manifesto moratorium on any new North Sea licences being issued.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "In my conversations with the Prime Minister and the Chancellor, I have been very clear that whilst we of course support net zero, we cannot have a jobless transition, abandon our energy security or offshore our carbon responsibilities. That is why we have argued for this decision on Jackdaw."
She added: "This gives us a bit more time to create and fund a concrete plan for commensurate jobs for workers currently working in the North Sea. Now we urgently need to use that and invest in industries like wind turbine manufacture and refining green jet fuel. We simply cannot let go of one rope until we have hold of another."
Environmental concerns and Rosebank decision
Industry bodies have argued that starting production at the sites would provide much-needed jobs and improve the UK's energy security as overseas conflicts threaten supply. But environmentalists fear Jackdaw's gas will hamper efforts to slash planet-warming carbon emissions as deadly heatwaves and extreme weather affect people across the globe.
Kate Norgrove, chief impact officer at WWF, said: "This is a disappointing decision and the government now urgently needs to show that it remains 100% committed to the clean energy transition by rejecting the even more damaging Rosebank oil field. It must set out the UK's roadmap to transition away from fossil fuels for good, securing well-paid clean energy jobs and protecting the public from soaring bills in the process."
Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh said this week that a decision on whether to approve the development of the Rosebank oil and gas field will take longer. Jackdaw, which is about 150 miles (241.4km) east of Aberdeen, is a gas field which its operators say could be connected to the UK network within months.
Conservative criticism
The Conservatives had accused Mr Burnham of "dithering and delaying" on the approval. The Prime Minister was said to be putting off a decision on the Jackdaw gas field until after the crunch Holborn and St Pancras by-election due to fears of the threat from the Green Party.
Mr Bowie had said: "Andy Burnham is dithering and delaying. He has sat on a gas field that is ready to go, because he was frightened of the Green Party in Camden. The by-election is over and his excuse has gone with it, so he should approve Jackdaw immediately."
He added: "If the Prime Minister finally signs it off, nobody should mistake one gas field for a change of heart, because Labour’s ban on new licences and its punishing windfall tax are bleeding the North Sea of investment and the jobs that go with it. Approve Jackdaw, approve Rosebank, end the ban on licences, scrap the Energy Profits Levy. That is what a Conservative Government would do, and it is what this Prime Minister should do if he wants anyone to believe he is serious."
