Jackdaw gasfield decision may be delayed until after byelection
The reported delay has drawn accusations from the Greens that Labour is withholding its position before the 8 October Holborn and St Pancras contest.
A decision on environmental approval for the controversial Jackdaw gasfield in the North Sea is reportedly unlikely before the House of Commons recess on Tuesday, raising the prospect of an announcement after the 8 October Holborn and St Pancras byelection.
Miatta Fahnbulleh, the energy secretary, had been expected to make a recommendation next week. Multiple unnamed Whitehall sources cited by The Guardian said the process was instead likely to move into later autumn. The timing has not been formally confirmed.
The byelection is being contested by Green party leader Zack Polanski and Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali in the former seat of Keir Starmer. Polanski has accused Labour of concealing its position to avoid criticism over Jackdaw during the campaign.
The reported delay has also been questioned by Andrew Bowie, the shadow energy secretary, who said postponing approval would extend the time taken to increase domestic North Sea production.
Jackdaw is being pursued under an existing North Sea licence, meaning approval would not breach Labour’s manifesto commitment not to issue new oil and gas licences. Fahnbulleh’s recommendation would precede any formal decision by the North Sea Transition Authority.
Environmental campaigners oppose Jackdaw and the separate Rosebank oilfield project. Both projects previously had environmental approvals rescinded after a court ruling required emissions from burning the extracted fuels to be considered. The energy department says North Sea oil and gas remain important to jobs, growth and energy security.
