The chief executive of oil company Shell said last night that he would like Scotland to “remain part of the UK”.
Addressing the company’s annual reception in London, Ben van Beurden said he valued the “continuity and stability” of the UK. He said the company had reached this view for the same reasons it supported the UK staying “inside the EU”.
The Scottish Government said an EU referendum was the “real risk” facing the oil and gas sector.
Last week, Shell hosted the UK Cabinet at its headquarters in Aberdeen.
At the time, the chairman of Shell UK, Ed Daniels, said the independence debate was “a matter for Scottish people” and that “it would be wrong” for Shell to intervene.
In his speech, Mr van Beurden said one of the “many things” the company valued about the UK was the “continuity and stability” it offered.
He added: “Yes, we’re used to operating in uncertain political and economic environments. But, given a choice, we want to know as accurately as possible what investment conditions will look like 10 or 20 years from now.
“That’s the chief reason we’re in favour of the UK maintaining its long-established place at the heart of the European Union.
“But, as a global business with feet planted firmly on both sides of the Channel, we also believe that the UK’s national interests are best served by a close relationship with Europe.
“The continent faces medium-term challenges – but we believe those challenges are best tackled with the UK’s voice loudly heard inside the EU.
“It’s for similar reasons that we’d like to see Scotland remain part of the United Kingdom.”
A spokeswoman for the Scottish government said: “The Scottish government agrees with Shell that the real risk facing the Oil and Gas sector is the proposed in-out referendum on EU membership, which risks taking Scotland out of Europe with all the consequences for jobs, investment and prosperity that would entail.
“We would be happy to meet with Shell to discuss the future of the oil and gas industry in an independent Scotland.
“As Ed Daniels, chairman of Shell UK has acknowledged, the independence debate is a matter for the Scottish people. A recent Oil and Gas UK poll showed that in fact, 70% of oil workers planned to vote for independence.
“Industry has significant confidence in the opportunities presented in the North Sea. Combined, operators, including Shell, have around £100bn worth of investment planned for the North Sea. And with more than half of oil and gas reserves by value still to be extracted, that investment will continue after independence.”
Mr van Beurden ‘s comments come after BP’s chief executive, Bob Dudley, said he personally believed Britain “ought to stay together”.
Speaking in response to Mr Dudley’s remarks, Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said he was “entitled to his personal opinion” but added that many other chief executives were in favour of independence.
Interviewed on BBC Breakfast last month, BA group chief executive Willie Walsh said he thought Scottish independence would be a “positive development” for the company as he believed a Scottish government would abolish air passenger duty.
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