She is now under pressure to approve the separate Rosebank oil and gas field as a further sign of commitment to the North Sea and domestic energy production.
asserted
She → approve → Sea
The approval ends months of speculation about the future of the Jackdaw project, which owner Adura said could deliver around 6% of UK North Sea gas production.
uncertain
Adura → end → production
Ms Fahnbulleh said the move will “support the country’s energy security with homegrown gas this winter” although she acknowledged it would not bring down household bills.
asserted
it → say → bills
Gas is expected to start flowing by the end of the month after Ms Fahnbulleh agreed that regulator the North Sea Transition Authority could approve the scheme.
uncertain
regulator → expect → scheme
Mr Burnham said the decision will “protect hundreds of jobs and help keep millions of homes warm”, but stressed it would not hinder the Government’s targets on renewable energy.
asserted
it → say → energy
He said: “At a time when people are really struggling, it’s right that we look in a responsible way at maximising the existing energy reserves we have in Britain that could help.
uncertain
that → say → Britain
“We’re committed to moving towards renewable energy and reaching net zero by 2050.
asserted
We → ’re → 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.”
asserted
we → require → decades
The drilling project is one of two – alongside the Rosebank oil field off Shetland – which were approved by the previous Conservative government.
asserted
which → approve → government
Both were approved for drilling licences in June 2022, but this was overturned by the Scottish courts after a challenge from environmental campaigners.
asserted
this → approve → campaigners
This came after a UK Supreme Court ruling that developers had to account for the climate impact caused by burning fossil fuels in their planning applications.
asserted
developers → come → applications
Read More
Fresh public consultations on the proposals took place this year and closed in August, and the Government gave the green light to Jackdaw on Wednesday morning.
asserted
Government → read → morning
Ms Fahnbulleh said: “This decision will support the country’s energy security with homegrown gas this winter and help minimise the UK’s use of imported higher emission fuels as we continue our transition to renewables and nuclear.
asserted
we → say → renewables
“The decision is compatible with our legally binding climate commitments, and we remain resolute in ending new licences for oil and gas and achieving net zero by 2050.”
asserted
we → remain → 2050
A decision on Rosebank, the largest untapped oil field in the North Sea, is being made separately.
asserted
decision → make → Sea
“Jackdaw is producing gas that predominantly is used in the domestic market, Rosebank is a different proposition because it is oil that is exported,” Ms Fahnbulleh told BBC Radio Scotland.
asserted
Fahnbulleh → produce → Scotland
The chief executive of Adura – the joint venture between Shell and Norway’s Equinor which is behind both schemes – called for Rosebank to also be approved.
asserted
Rosebank → call → schemes
Adura boss Neil McCulloch said: “Jackdaw represents a significant prize in its own right: £2.1 billion of investment and enough gas to heat the equivalent of around 1.4 million UK homes at peak production.
asserted
Jackdaw → say → production
“Our attention now turns to Rosebank.
asserted
attention → turn → Rosebank
It follows Jackdaw in the regulatory process, but the case for approval is equally strong.
asserted
case → follow → approval
We believe that applying the same rigorous, evidence-based approach can lead to a similarly positive decision.”
asserted
applying → believe → decision
The Prime Minister said he was taking a “pragmatic” approach to the North Sea.
asserted
he → say → Sea
Labour’s 2024 manifesto committed to issuing no new oil and gas licences for the North Sea.
asserted
manifesto → commit → Sea
However, proponents of Jackdaw and Rosebank within the party have argued that neither are new fossil fuel fields, given the wheels were in motion to tap them ahead of Labour coming to power.
asserted
Labour → argue → power
But environmental campaigners hit out at Mr Burnham’s Government.
asserted
campaigners → hit → Government
Labour MP Alex Sobel said: “My view hasn’t changed.
asserted
view → say → ?
Jackdaw won’t draw gas for many years.
asserted
Jackdaw → draw → years
“It won’t make an impact on global prices and will give mixed messages in terms of investment of both renewables and decarbonisation of home heating.”
asserted
It → make → heating
Ami McCarthy, head of politics for Greenpeace UK, said: “Approving Jackdaw shows the toxic grip fossil fuel lobbyists still hold over our energy policy.
asserted
lobbyists → say → policy
“Andy Burnham promised pragmatism, but there is nothing pragmatic about rubber-stamping a project that won’t lower energy bills, won’t boost energy security and will create just 27 full-time jobs.”
asserted
that → promise → jobs
Kate Norgrove, WWF chief impact officer, said: “This is a disappointing decision and the Government now urgently needs to show that it remains 100% committed to the clean energy transition by rejecting the even more damaging Rosebank oil field.”
asserted
it → say → field
Tessa Khan, executive director of campaign group Uplift, said Labour’s climate credibility is “on the line now” with Rosebank becoming the defining test.
asserted
Rosebank → say → line
She said: “Approving it would see the Government knowingly breach safe climate limits.”
asserted
Government → say → limits
Green Party of England and Wales leader Zack Polanski said the decision to approve Jackdaw was “climate vandalism”.
asserted
decision → say → Jackdaw
He said: “Today’s decision by Labour is a betrayal of all of our futures.
asserted
decision → say → futures
Labour has abandoned all credibility in the fight against climate change.”
asserted
Labour → abandon → change
But Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said Labour should have taken the decision to approve Jackdaw earlier instead of “faffing about”.
asserted
Labour → say → Jackdaw
The Aporia
