Greenpeace is looking into taking legal action against the UK Government after it granted Shell a permit at the Jackdaw field, off the coast of Aberdeen.
The move follows Westminster approving a new permit for gas extraction. The field is estimated to have the potential to produce 6.5% of Britain’s gas output.
It was initially rejected in October on environmental grounds, but appears to have got the go-ahead due to concerns around the UK's reliance on Russian imports of gas.
Shell plans to start production from the field in the second half of 2025, under the new plans. The company expects to spend £500m in the UK developing the new facility.
It claimed the field would be able to produce gas for up to 1.4 million British homes and its carbon emissions would be eventually captured for storage, if a proposed plant in Peterhead project secures funding.
UK Business Minister Kwasi Kwarteng stated: “We're turbocharging renewables and nuclear, but we are also realistic about our energy needs now - let's source more of the gas we need from British waters to protect energy security."
Ami McCarthy, political campaigner for Greenpeace UK, responded: “Approving Jackdaw is a desperate and destructive decision from Johnson’s government, and proves there’s no long-term plan.
“They could immediately shave billions off bills, get a grip on UK energy demand, create thousands of jobs, boost our economy, tackle the climate crisis and avoid future crises - if they just upgrade homes to be warmer and greener, and invest in clean and cheap renewable power.
“But instead, once again, they’re handing out lucrative permits to the likes of Shell for a project that won’t start producing gas for years, that won’t lower our bills, but will create massive emissions causing deadly flooding and wildfires, and mass migration from people fleeing the climate crisis.
“This government’s shown no regard for these emissions, or Jackdaw’s ultimate climate impact - we think that’s unlawful, we’re looking at legal action to stop Jackdaw, and fight this every step of the way.”
The Scottish Green Party labelled the UK Government “reckless”, with energy and climate spokesperson Mark Ruskell commenting: “Having recently relabelled dirty gas as green, this Tory government is using all its powers from licensing to taxation to deepen our dependence on oil and gas, just at the time when we should be investing in our massive renewable potential instead.”
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