Norman Bewick

The approval of the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea will boost Britain's domestic gas output by 6% at peak—enough to heat 1.4 million homes. Yet critics continue to repeat two persistent myths. First, that domestic gas won't lower prices because of "global markets." In reality, as energy analyst Kathryn Porter notes, British gas isn't sold on a mythical global market at a uniform price. Supplying the UK system directly displaces far more expensive imported Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), reducing costs for consumers. Second, that domestic supply harms the environment. Data from the North Sea Transition Authority shows UK gas has an emissions intensity of 27 kg CO2 per unit, compared to 85 kg for LNG. Chilling gas, shipping it across oceans, and regasifying it generates massive unnecessary emissions. In fact, analysis by Stifel shows relying on North Sea gas over LNG saved Britain £2.5 billion in 2025 alone. Blockading domestic production in the name of climate activism doesn't stop gas consumption—it merely exports emissions and inflates energy bills. Pragmatism, not performance, must guide UK energy policy.