On 21 October, the UK government approved the drilling of Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea and will begin supplying energy from the end of October.
Jackdaw is a gas field 150 miles east of Aberdeen owned by Shell; it is one of two oil and gas projects in the North Sea. Following its targets, the gas field was originally approved in 2022 with production set to begin in 2026.
The government says it has been approved to ensure the UK’s energy security, provide and protect hundreds of jobs, and add an estimated £2.9bn to the economy.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham commented: “I welcome the Energy Secretary’s decision, which will protect hundreds of jobs and help keep millions of homes warm this winter.”
However, this approval has been met with much criticism. Campaign group Uplift says that even in the most optimistic scenario, the reserves at Jackdaw would provide 2% of UK annual gas demand on average over its 10-year life expectancy.
Jackdaw will emit over 35m tonnes of CO2e. If Rosebank – the other oil field – is approved, together their emissions will be the equivalent of 70% of the UK’s entire annual emissions in 2025.
Many believe Jackdaw does not align with the UK’s 2050 Net Zero targets.
One student commented: “I think the government forgets this is our future.”
“It is not environmentally or, frankly, economically sustainable what Burnham’s government is doing.”
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch had different criticisms.
At Prime Minister’s Questions on 21 October, Badenoch accused Burnham of “dithering” over Jackdaw. She thanked him for “finally” approving the oil field. She asked him about the possibility of reversing the ban on oil and gas permits.
Photo by Ben Wicks on Unsplash.
