A special meeting of the Scottish cabinet is being held today with talks focused on the oil and gas industry.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said discussions would examine what action is required, now and in the longer term, to “maximise economic recovery” from the North Sea.
The session will be attended by Lena Wilson, chief executive of Scottish Enterprise and chairwoman of the energy jobs task force.
Ahead of the meeting, Ms Sturgeon said: “The Scottish Government will do all it can to support the industry and the workforce at this time.
“There is a long-term future in the North Sea, but only if the right action is taken.
“I wrote to the Prime Minister last week urging him to agree accelerating the conclusion of a city deal for Aberdeen, funded jointly by the United Kingdom and Scottish governments, so that we can help Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council to invest in the infrastructure that the city needs.”
The Scottish Government has offered to fund the deal on a 50:50 basis to support innovation, digital connectivity and infrastructure.
Scottish Secretary David Mundell responded to Ms Sturgeon’s call and said full details of the Aberdeen city deal were expected to be announced “shortly”.
The meeting comes days after Sturgeon refused to publish an update on North Sea job losses despite not having produced one for six months.
Energy Voice previously reported Nicola Sturgeon failed to hold a single meeting with her energy jobs chief for more than six months last year – despite at least 800 offshore workers being made redundant in that period.
The First Minister held no official discussion with Lena Wilson on spiralling North Sea job losses between May 28 and December 14.
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