Page 14 - EurOil Week 24 2022

EurOil POLICY EurOil

(left to right standing):
Brian Wilson; Alistair
Carmichael MP; (left to
right seated): Charles
Hendry; Fergus Ewing
MSP; Amber Rudd.

Former UK, Scottish ministers urge greater

support for oil, gas industry

UK FIVE former UK and Scottish government min- technologies like carbon capture and storage
isters have signed a statement pledging their sup- (CCS).
port for the oil and gas industry, seeking to push “The consequences of taking the polarised
back against the argument that oil and gas have view is one that we destroy jobs, we destroy busi-
no role to play in the energy transition. nesses and we destroy opportunities in the world
Describing it as an “unprecedented” decla- to be a leader and at the same time, crazily, become
ration, the cross-party group of ministers made more dependent on imports,” Wilson said.
the statement at Aberdeen’s South Harbour on Rudd added that “there are all sorts of new
June 13, at an event organised by industry body technologies as part of the transition agreement
Offshore Energies UK. Former Scottish energy that can be harnessed and are being harnessed,
minister and current SNP MSP Fergus Ewing with proper investment in order to do that.”
joined Amber Rudd, the former Conservative “It’s not – it never should be – one or the other.
energy secretary. The other signatories were We need the support for the oil and gas indus-
Liberal Democrat MP and former Scottish secre- try to deliver on that transition and we need to
tary Alistair Carmichael, and former UK energy acknowledge that and work together.”
ministers Charles Hendry of the Conservatives The declaration comes weeks after the UK
and Brian Wilson of Labour. government announced a 25% windfall tax on
The ministers called for an end to what they profits by oil and gas companies, adding to the
said was a damaging “polarised” view that sup- 40% headline tax rate that the industry already
port for North Sea oil and gas was incompatible pays on its income. That move has been roundly
with renewables. Instead, Hendry said that the criticised by OEUK and other voices in the
North Sea and decarbonisation were “two sides industry, which have said it runs counter to the
of the same coin,” while Ewing said skills and goals set out in the UK’s updated energy strat-
resources in the oil and gas industry were cru- egy released in April and focused on improving
cial to bring to bear in developing low-carbon energy security. ™

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