// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
What is happening with the Jackdaw and Rosebank gas and oil fields?
Those against further oil and gas exploration have turned the heat on the new prime minister
The Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea has been allowed to start production after years of debates and legal wrangling - but a decision is yet to be taken on the Rosebank oil field off Shetland.
Industry bodies argue that the sites could provide jobs and improve the UK's energy security as overseas conflicts threaten supply.
Environmentalists insist that more drilling would be unconscionable, hampering efforts to cut planet-warming carbon emissions as deadly heatwaves and extreme weather affect billions across the globe.
They also say starting production would not protect energy security and that transitioning sooner to greener technologies would be better for supporting jobs.
Jackdaw is a gas field located about 150 miles (241km) east of Aberdeen.
The UK government, which has now given permission for production to begin, says it will be able to start to supplying gas from the end of this month.
Rosebank, about 80 miles (128km) north-west of Shetland, is Britain's largest untapped oil field, which would also produce some gas.
It would take longer than Jackdaw to become operational, but is scheduled to be up and running by 2027 if approved.
Licences for the fields were granted by the then Conservative UK government in 2022 and 2023 - sparking legal challenges from environmental groups.