Shell, Equinor Receive UK's Green Light for North Sea Gas Field

04:10 AM EDT, 10/21/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Shell (SHEL) and Equinor (EQNR) have secured Britain's approval for the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea to begin supplying gas to British homes and businesses as early as the end of October, the UK government said Wednesday. The project, operated through Shell and Equinor's joint venture Adura, is expected to boost domestic gas production by roughly 6% at its peak and have a lifespan of up to 11 years, supporting the country's energy security and protecting jobs, the UK's energy security department said. The North Sea Transition Authority said it had granted development consent after scrutiny of the project, allowing the owners to proceed with production following completion of development work. Jackdaw is also expected to add around 2.9 billion pounds ($3.9 billion) to the UK economy, the department added.