The UK government's Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh is likely to approve two major North Sea projects, the Jackdaw and Rosebank oil fields, in coming months. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero declined to comment, but the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce sees approval as a "hugely important vote of confidence" in the region. Environmental groups such as Friends of the Earth Scotland warn that approving new fossil fuel projects would worsen extreme climate change-related events, with Caroline Rance stating that new fossil fuels can never be compatible with the UK's climate commitments. According to Adura, the operator of Jackdaw and Rosebank, the gas field could produce 6% of the UK's gas output at its peak.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
The Guardian also reports that Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh is also likely to approve the Rosebank oil field in the coming months.
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Fahnbulleh → report → months
Both projects were approved by the last Conservative government but were struck down by the courts after a challenge from environmental campaigners, with ministers told they had not fully considered their environmental impact.
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they → approve → impact
Asked if approval of Jackdaw was imminent, a No 10 spokeswoman told reporters: “I don’t have an update for you basically.
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I → ask → you
It’s a quasi-judicial decision.”
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It → ’ → ?
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) said: “We do not comment on speculation”.
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We → say → speculation
The Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce said the approval of Jackdaw would be a “hugely important vote of confidence in the North Sea”.
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approval → say → Sea
“But Jackdaw cannot be the end of the story,” said chief executive Russell Borthwick.
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Borthwick → say → story
He added: “The same urgency must now be applied to Rosebank, another major project capable of supporting thousands of jobs, billions of pounds of economic activity and significant tax revenues for the Treasury.”
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urgency → add → Treasury
Andrew Bowie, the Tory shadow energy secretary, said approving the Jackdaw gas field was “common sense”.
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approving → say → field
“Labour’s ban on new oil and gas licences has been disastrous for the North East and cost thousands of workers their jobs as they continue to dither over a decision,” he said.
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he → cost → decision
Jackdaw and Rosebank are operated by Adura, a joint venture between Shell and Norwegian energy firm Equinor, with Aberdeen’s Ithaca also owning 20% of Rosebank.
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Ithaca → operate → Rosebank
Adura says Jackdaw could produce 6% of the UK’s gas output at its peak, although environmental groups put the figure at 2%.
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groups → say → %
Friends of the Earth Scotland said the UK Government must not “cave in to fossil fuel company pressure”.
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Government → say → pressure
The group warned that the burning of more fossil fuels would worsen extreme climate change-related events such as heatwaves.
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burning → warn → heatwaves
Caroline Rance, head of campaigns for the group, said: “New fossil fuels means deadly new climate disasters like the devastating floods in Nepal or the extreme heatwaves that have killed nearly 3,000 people in the UK this summer.
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that → say → UK
“It is terrifying that the UK Government is considering caving to pressure from oil and gas lobbyists, and listening to their lies rather than looking at the evidence and prioritising our collective safety.
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Government → consider → safety
Both Jackdaw and Rosebank must be rejected once and for all.”
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Jackdaw → reject → all
Tessa Khan, executive director of environmental group Uplift, said further drilling in the North Sea would “do nothing” to cut energy bills in the UK and make “no meaningful difference to UK energy supply”.
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drilling → say → supply
“After 50 years of drilling, the UK has now burned most of its gas and the majority of what’s left in the basin is oil, which is largely exported,” Khan said.
“Jackdaw, a relatively small gas field, would – optimistically and assuming none of its gas is exported – provide just 2% of UK gas demand over its roughly 10-year lifetime.
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none → burn → lifetime
“The science is clear that the world already has far more oil and gas than can ever be safely burned if we are to limit warming.”
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we → have → warming
Industry body Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) has said Rosebank and Jackdaw would support a peak of more than 3,500 jobs during construction, and 880 jobs externally throughout during their lifespans.
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Rosebank → say → lifespans
Spokesperson for Adura: “With the conclusion of public consultation on the Jackdaw and Rosebank fields, we now await a government decision on consent to allow the two projects to move forward to production.
“
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projects → await → production
Together, Jackdaw and Rosebank represent a significant opportunity for the UK.
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Jackdaw → represent → UK
They can provide 10% of our gas production, 10% of UKCS oil output and contribute over £28 billion in value to the economy, supporting over 3,500 jobs at peak construction.
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They → provide → construction
“Jackdaw and Rosebank will be among the lowest emissions oil and gas developments in the UK Continental Shelf, itself one of the most highly-regulated and lowest emissions basins anywhere in the world.”
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Jackdaw → regulate → world
A DESNZ spokesperson said: “We do not comment on speculation.
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We → say → speculation
The North Sea remains a vital national asset and oil and gas will continue to play an important role in our energy system for decades to come – alongside transitioning to clean power to protect jobs and tackle the climate crisis.
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oil → remain → crisis
“Any decision will take into account all relevant evidence, including environmental assessments and public representations received during the consultation process.”
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decision → take → process
Speaking during a visit to West Sussex, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said not drilling the two fossil fuel fields would just result in the UK offshoring more emissions.
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UK → speak → emissions
Asked if tapping the fields was appropriate when the Government is also warning the public to prepare for more extreme weather events, Mrs Badenoch told the Press Association: “Yes, absolutely, because not drilling Jackdaw and Rosebank is actually increasing carbon emissions because we’re not using oil and gas that’s drilled cleanly in our country, instead we’re importing it from other places that drill it dirty.
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that → ask → it
“So we haven’t lowered carbon emissions.
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we → lower → emissions
We just send them somewhere else and increase them.”
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We → send → them
