UK approves development of Jackdaw gas field in North Sea

Summary

UK ministers have approved development of the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea, about 150 miles east of Aberdeen, allowing drilling to begin, according to the Financial Times and RTÉ. ABC News reports the approval was granted over the objections of environmental groups, with the government saying the project would improve energy security as the country moves toward renewable sources of energy. The Financial Times also reports that ministers stressed the decision on the larger Rosebank oilfield was a ‘different proposition’.

Timeline

1. RTÉ

   21 Oct 2026, 06:53 UTCSource ↗

   The UK government has approved plans to begin drilling in the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea.

2. ABC News

   21 Oct 2026, 07:29 UTCSource ↗

   The UK government has approved a natural gas project off the coast of Scotland over the objections of environmental groups, saying it would improve energy security as the country transitions to renewable sources of energy.

3. Financial Times

   21 Oct 2026, 13:41 UTCSource ↗

   Ministers have given the go-ahead for development of the Jackdaw gasfield, about 150 miles east of Aberdeen in the North Sea, and stressed that the decision on the larger Rosebank oilfield was a ‘different proposition’.