The decision, announced Wednesday, clears the way for the Jackdaw gas field project, located in the North Sea east of Aberdeen, despite continued opposition from environmental organizations.

The project was initially approved in 2022 but faced legal setbacks after a Scottish court ruled that the government had failed to adequately assess the environmental consequences of burning the gas that would be produced.

The court’s decision stalled the development and required authorities to conduct a further environmental review before reconsidering approval.

Following that assessment, Energy Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh authorized the project on Wednesday.

In defending the decision, the Department of Energy said domestic natural gas production could help support the United Kingdom’s energy needs during the transition away from fossil fuels.

“Jackdaw would result in a greener UK gas grid during a key period of our transition away from fossil fuels,” the department said in a statement.

The government maintains that developing domestic energy resources is important for maintaining reliable supplies while expanding renewable energy generation.

However, the approval remains controversial among environmental campaigners who oppose new fossil fuel developments and have raised concerns about their long-term climate impact.

The Jackdaw project has become a focal point in the debate over how Britain should balance energy security, domestic gas production and its environmental commitments.

The latest decision marks a significant development for the North Sea project following years of regulatory and legal uncertainty.

While the government has emphasized the project’s potential contribution to energy security, environmental groups continue to question whether expanding gas production is compatible with the country’s transition to cleaner energy sources.