Crown Estate Scotland is seeking “formal assurances” that winners in the ScotWind auction adhere to sanctions being imposed on Russia.
The body, which manages the seabed around Scotland, said an “initial check” showed that none of the consortia which won acreage are owned or registered in Russia.
However, it has issued a statement saying it is seeking “formal assurance from project partners that they will adhere at all times to legal requirements related to sanctions”.
Waves of sanctions have been imposed by the UK on Russia in light of its invasion of Ukraine, ranging from targeted measures against oligarchs and corporations to banning Russian vessels in UK ports.
ScotWind awards in January gave way to a £700m cash windfall to Scottish Government coffers and produced a pipeline of multi-billion-pound offshore wind projects totalling a giant 25 gigawatts.
Crown Estate Scotland, which manages ScotWind, said it is taking steps to ensure none of the work to be delivered breaches these rules.
It said: “Successful ScotWind applicants are consortia of different project partners. Crown Estate Scotland has carried out an initial check of applicants for Russian ownership and/or registration.
“This initial check did not uncover any Russian ownership or registration.”
The statement continued: “Crown Estate Scotland is committed to taking all appropriate action not to support trade and investment activity with Russia.
“Crown Estate Scotland will require formal assurance from project partners that they will adhere at all times to legal requirements related to sanctions.
“We continue to work closely with Scottish Government, to ensure we are fully informed and taking appropriate action in what is a rapidly evolving situation.”
The consortia may not be registered or owned by Russia, though some of the winners who form these groups do have Russian business interests.
BP, Shell and TotalEnergies have interests in Russia, although the former two have said they intend to exit those businesses in light of the invasion.
Other businesses across the industry including energy services players have interests in Russia.
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