Lib Dems attack SNP for refusing energy debate
The Scottish Liberal Democrats had urged the administration to host a session in the Scottish Parliament on the future of the offshore industry, amid spiralling job losses in the sector.
SNP
David Cameron: Low oil price has led to “collapse” of SNP policy
The low oil price has led to a “complete and utter collapse” of the SNP’s policy, the Prime Minister has claimed. David Cameron told MPs in the Commons that a low oil price “basically is good for the British economy” but they needed to look at helping the oil and gas industry.
MSP lobbies Chancellor to take action on oil jobs
North east MSP, Kevin Stewart has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer asking him to take action on securing jobs in the oil and gas sector.
UK Government urged to support Peterhead CCS project
The UK Government is being urged to outline how it will support a world-leading north-east gas project after the energy secretary announced plans to phase out coal by 2025.
Oil industry “may require further tax cut” says OGUK chief
The North Sea oil sector may need a further reduction in its tax bill if prices remain low, the head of an industry body has said.
Ineos senior exec ‘not too concerned’ about fracking motion
A senior executive of fracking company Ineos has said he is “not too concerned” about a motion at the SNP conference that could result in a further clampdown on the controversial practice. Party members meeting in Aberdeen will today be asked to back a move that would place tighter restrictions on the party’s moratorium on shale gas extraction. The Scottish Government has already halted any fracking until 2017.
SNP claim Labour ‘sat on their hands’ over oil jobs
Callum McCaig has branded the Labour Party “shameful” amid claims the SNP failed to act to protect North Sea oil and gas jobs. The Aberdeen South MP told a packed conference hall he would have “appreciated some help” from other MPs in his efforts to protect the “vital industry”. Mr McCaig was responding to comments from Kezia Dugdale reported in Energy Voice's sister publication the Press and Journal.
Action call on “worst ever industrial crisis”
The Scottish Government has been challenged to tackle the "worst industrial crisis" in the country's history - and help the offshore industry plan for a brighter future.
Sturgeon shifts North Sea blame
The first minister has admitted that there is a “great deal” that needs to be done to protect oil and gas jobs – and insisted the Scottish Government is doing all it can to help alleviate the crisis. Nicola Sturgeon said that her taskforce was working to minimise job losses, but that the UK Government needed to stop hampering progress in the sector. The Conservative’s energy spokesman Murdo Fraser rounded on the first minister, saying she needed to do more than “pass the buck” while people are “worried about their futures”. Labour’s energy spokesman Lewis Macdonald agreed that her efforts so far have only “scratched the surface” of the crisis affecting the North East.
Scottish Government’s Energy Jobs Taskforce extended for further six months
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed the Scottish Government's Energy Jobs Taskforce has been extended for a further six months.
Conservatives raise concern over SNP’s energy policy
The Conservatives have accused the Scottish Government of having no strategy to “keep the lights on” after the closure of Scotland’s biggest electricity-generating stations. The party’s energy spokesman Murdo Fraser attacked the SNP administration for putting “all its eggs” in the basket of “intermittent” wind power. Mr Fraser used a Tory debate at Holyrood to call on the Government to consider a new gas-powered generator at the site of the troubled Longannet power station in Fife. Last year it emerged that the station may be forced to close due to what the operator Scottish Power described as “disproportionately high” transmission charges to connect to the main grid network. Scottish generators, including Longannet, account for around 12% of the capacity connected to Britain’s high-voltage electricity network but pay around 35% of the charges, according to the Scottish Government.
SNP accused over oil price fall
The SNP has been accused of “deceiving” voters in September’s referendum after analysis suggested an independent Scotland would have received only a fifth of the party’s oil revenue estimates. According to reports projections from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) which take into account plummeting prices put oil revenues at £1.25 billion in 2016/17 - the first year of independence had Scotland voted Yes - instead of the £6.9 billion predicted by the Nationalists during the campaign. Meanwhile oil giant Shell confirmed it is to sell its share in the Sean gas field in the southern North Sea.
North Sea’s potential hindered by tax, claims oil boss
An international oil boss has claimed that the North Sea can no longer compete with the rest of the world – because of George Osborne’s tax regime.