The Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea will start to supply gas to British homes and businesses from the end of this month, after the Energy Secretary agreed that the regulator can grant consent for gas to be produced at the field.
The decision, which was first proposed in May 2021, has been held up in a political debate about clean energy versus fossil fuels.
The Government has agreed to let drilling for gas commence based on the immediate need for gas to heat homes across the UK.
It looks less certain to approve the Rosebank Oil field as that oil would largely have to be exported.
The government optimistically claims, "The project will start to supply gas to British homes and businesses from as early as the end of this month, helping heat millions of homes and protecting hundreds of jobs".
The Prime Minister, Andy Burnham MP, said "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."
The details of the Energy Wealth Fund are still rather opaque, but hopefully it will help fund measures to improve the energy efficiency of British Homes.
you can read the full press release here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/jackdaw-gas-field-gets-green-light
or the full documentation behind the Jackdaw Development here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jackdaw-field-development