The UK Government approved a natural gas project on the coast of Scotland near Aberdeen, ignoring objections from environmental groups, according to the international press.
© Reuters
21/10/2026
by
Lusa
O UK government today approved a natural gas project off the coast of Scotland near Aberdeen, ignoring all the objections of environmental groups, reported to the international press.
The British administration justified the decision by stating that the project will enhance energy security while the country transits to renewable energy sources, according to the Associated Press (AP) news agency.
“The [natural gas field] Jackdaw will make the UK’s network greener during a fundamental period of our transition to the abandonment of fossil fuels,” said the British Department of Energy in a press release.
Although the Jackdaw camp was initially approved in 2022, the project was suspended after a Scottish court had determined that the British Government had not taken into account the environmental impact of the burning of the gas extracted by the undertaking.
Following a further analysis, British Energy Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh approved the project today.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham had stated that the approval of Jackdaw’s operation — about 240 kilometres east of Aberdeen — “will protect hundreds of jobs and help keep millions of homes warm this winter.”.
The issue is politically sensitive, since before it came to power in 2024, the Labour Party had undertaken not to approve new drilling licenses in the North Sea.
However, labor government commitments allow the approval of projects linked to existing licenses.
The project's opponents argue that any additional production of fossil energy implies greater consumption and only delays the energy transition.
They also claim that the British will not notice any difference in their energy bills, as gas and oil prices depend on international quotations anyway.