Adura Energy has received North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) consent to develop Jackdaw natural gas and condensate field, off the coast of northeast Scotland, following consideration of the company's environmental statement and agreement to the grant of consent. 

NSTA originally granted development consent for Jackdaw to Shell UK in June 2022. But this consent was deemed unlawful and overturned by the Scottish courts in January 2025, following findings that initial environmental approvals had failed to account for the impact of secondary emissions.

Estimated reserves at Jackdaw are 72-200 MMboe.

The new approval clears the way for Jackdaw to start supplying gas to British homes, power stations, and businesses within weeks, according to Adura, substantially all of the project’s physical infrastructure already having been completed.

Alongside Jackdaw’s reapproval, the UK government announced it will launch a £2-billion ($2.7-billion) energy wealth fund fueled by North Sea oil and gas tax revenues to reinvest directly into renewable projects.

Adura is a joint venture formed when Shell and Equinor ASA merged their UK offshore oil and gas businesses.

The associated Rosebank oil field is following Jackdaw in the regulatory process. An NSTA decision on it is anticipated in the coming weeks. A spokesperson for INEOS Group Ltd. said that "Jackdaw approval is welcome, but the government must stop taxing the North Sea into decline. Approving Jackdaw is the right decision, but this does not stop the damage being done to the North Sea. And it appears Rosebank remains stuck in political limbo."