Controversial Jackdaw gas field set to be approved in weeks, sources say

The UK government is set to give the go-ahead for a controversial new gas field off the coast of Aberdeen, the BBC understands.

Approval for the Jackdaw project could come as soon as mid-September, just before Parliament breaks for party conference season, according to government and industry sources.

The gas field was approved by the former Conservative government in 2022 but was delayed by a legal ruling from a Scottish court, after environmental groups successfully argued that consent was given without fully considering the climate impact.

Jackdaw's owner says it will provide gas to supply up to 6% of the UK's demand at peak production, but environmental groups say it will only supply 2%.

Campaigners launched legal challenges after Jackdaw was approved in 2022 and when the Rosebank oil field off Shetland was given the green light in 2023.

The Court of Session in Edinburgh ruled last year that Rosebank and Jackdaw had been unlawfully approved because the government had failed to take into account the climate impact of burning extracted oil and gas from the sites.

A judge ruled that more detailed climate assessments had to be published, and these updated estimates were put out for consultation in July.

Both Jackdaw and Rosebank are operated by Adura, a joint venture between energy giants Shell and Norway's Equinor. Aberdeen-based firm Ithaca also owns 20% of Rosebank.