The GMB union has urged the Scottish Government to insist that oil companies remove everything from the seabed when closing down platforms unless there are pressing reasons not to.
GMB Scotland, commented on reports that Shell and others are looking to regulators for an opt-out from international rules requiring the complete removal of North Sea Oil platforms that have been shut down.
Gary Smith, acting secretary GMB Scotland, said: “GMB Scotland is concerned that the industry is calling for opt outs and that this will be seen as decommissioning on the cheap with the Scottish North Sea being left with a toxic legacy.
“The Scottish Government should insist that decommissioning follow the agreed Ospar rules that are governed by 15 north-east Atlantic countries. Widespread derogations could be bad for the environment and jobs.
“GMB Scotland fears that Scotland could to lose out on £50 billion in decommissioning work with companies preferring to send the work abroad including to Norway.”
GMB Scotland plans to write to MSPs this week highlighting the need for Scotland to insist that oil companies remove everything from the seabed when closing down platforms unless there are pressing reasons for an agreed derogation.”
Shell is consulting with various stakeholders, including Greepeace, on how best to dispose of the giant 300,000 subsea structures.
Notwithstanding the huge cost of dismantling and removal, the oil giant is consulting with experts on whether the marine life have adapted to the Brent production platforms over the past 40 years and therefore may be more hazardous to remove than to leave in situ.
Shell has said that it is considering all options.
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