Ithaca Energy PLC

The U.K. government is expected to approve development of the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea later this month, according to the BBC and other reports. Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh is also expected to approve the Rosebank oil field in the coming months, The Guardian reported. Both fields are operated by Adura, a joint venture between Shell and Equinor, with Ithaca Energy owning 20% of Rosebank. The projects were originally approved in 2022 but were blocked by a Scottish court ruling after environmental groups argued their climate impact was not fully considered. Jackdaw and Rosebank are relatively small, with forecast peak production of 40,000 and 70,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, respectively. Adura says Jackdaw could supply 6% of the U.K.'s total gas output at its peak, while environmental groups estimate it will meet just 2% of U.K. gas demand over its 10-year lifetime. The joint venture also projects the two fields will generate £1.4 billion, or about $1.9 billion, in tax revenues by 2029.