Jackdaw Gas Approval Raises Questions Over UK Energy Security as Rosebank Decision Looms

Approval for the Jackdaw gas project has been described as essential to help prevent domestic energy supply shortages this winter, but the UK government has previously questioned its impact on energy security and household bills.

Jackdaw gas project and UK energy security

When BBC News visited the platform this summer, Adura CEO Neil McCulloch said approval was essential to avoid domestic supply shortages during the winter.

However, the UK government has previously suggested that Jackdaw would have little effect on energy security and would not reduce domestic gas or electricity bills.

In August, the Energy Minister, Michael Shanks, said the UK would inevitably become more reliant on imported gas as domestic production declines. His comments came in a preliminary response to a consultation on the future of the country’s gas supply, external.

“With output from the North Sea declining over the past few decades, gas produced from the UK Continental Shelf only accounts for a fraction of global demand, so prices are falling and supply is not increasing significantly,” Shanks wrote.

Rosebank becomes the next focus

Labour has previously opposed issuing new exploration permits, but has said it would consider new production projects if they are tied to existing facilities.

McCulloch described the Jackdaw decision as an “important and positive step forward”, but said attention had now shifted to Rosebank.

He called on the UK government to approve production from fields in which Adura holds an 80% stake. The remaining 20% will be held by London-based Ithaca Energy.

An estimated 300 million to 500 million barrels of crude oil are stored at Rosebank.

However, while most of Jackdaw’s gas is likely to be consumed in the UK, Rosebank’s oil will be transported by tanker and sold on international markets.