Jackdaw Gasfield to Create Only 27 Direct Jobs, Documents Reveal

Jackdaw Gasfield: A Drop in the Employment Ocean?

More people can fit on the top deck of a London bus than will be directly employed by the new Jackdaw gasfield in the North Sea, according to industry documents. The environmental impact assessment filed by Adura, a joint venture between Shell and Equinor, reveals that only 27 direct full-time jobs would be created by the project.

While Adura claims the field will support nearly 500 jobs annually (including indirect and induced employment), campaigners argue this is a far cry from the thousands of jobs touted by industry advocates. The platform will be unstaffed for most of its operating life, and much of the construction has already occurred in Norway.

Industry vs. Campaigners

The fossil fuel industry, along with political figures, has been lobbying incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham to approve Jackdaw and the Rosebank oilfield. However, green groups like Greenpeace and Uplift say the economic benefits are minimal and that the projects primarily enrich shareholders.

Tessa Khan of Uplift stated: "It would be a mistake if the first thing Andy Burnham does as prime minister is cave into the demands of the profiteering oil and gas industry."

Tax Revenues Under Scrutiny

Uplift has also cast doubt on claims of tax revenues, arguing that tax reliefs will outweigh returns, leaving the British public to shoulder the costs through tax breaks. The group estimates Rosebank's emissions could equal 70% of the UK's annual CO2 output.

Adura, however, insists that Jackdaw and Rosebank will be among the lowest-emission developments in the UK continental shelf, with emissions intensity potentially half the average.

The Bigger Picture

North Sea jobs have been in decline for two decades as over 90% of resources have been extracted. Labour's manifesto promised no new oil or gas licences, but both fields were in the licensing system before the election, creating a loophole that critics say violates the spirit of the pledge.

Equinor’s Oseberg gas platform in the North Sea.

A consultation on Jackdaw closes on 8 August, with further consultation on Rosebank to follow.