What is happening with the Jackdaw and Rosebank gas and oil fields?
Summary
The UK government has approved starting gas production at the Jackdaw field in the North Sea, while a decision on the Rosebank oil field near Shetland is still pending. These fields are seen by industry as jobs creators and sources of energy, but environmental groups oppose further drilling due to climate change concerns.Key Facts
- Jackdaw is a gas field about 150 miles east of Aberdeen and will start supplying gas by the end of August 2026.
- Rosebank is the UK's largest untapped oil field, located about 80 miles northwest of Shetland, and may start production by 2027 if approved.
- Both fields' licenses were granted during Conservative governments in 2022 and 2023 and faced legal challenges over climate impact assessments.
- The Court of Session ruled the initial approvals were unlawful because climate effects were not properly considered.
- Rosebank could produce up to 500 million barrels of oil over 25 years, but most oil would be sent to the Netherlands for processing.
- Jackdaw is expected to increase UK domestic gas production by about 6% at its peak and produce enough gas for 1.4 million homes.
- New North Sea drilling is not expected to lower UK energy bills significantly, as prices are set by international markets.
- Environmental groups argue that new fossil fuel production harms climate efforts and that green energy alternatives could better support jobs.
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