An Aberdeen energy expert is making an 11th-hour plea to reopen the Jackdaw gas field as he warns imports cannot keep up with demand. While the UK was once self-sufficient in oil and gas, domestic production has steadily declined over the past two decades. In 2025, domestic gas production fell by 3.4% while demand declined by only 1%. “The fundamental problem is that UK gas production is falling faster than gas demand,” Prof Underhill adds. The company estimates it could provide more than 6% of UK gas supply by this winter – enough to heat around 1.4 million homes annually.