"Chancellor Owes Peterhead an Apology" - MSP

CARBON CAPTURE OPPORTUNITY MISSED

Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has hit out at the previous failure of the Treasury to offer adequate support to developing Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology in Peterhead. The Chancellor today (Wednesday) announced plans for an incentive scheme to support the development of CCS technology, yet the Treasury’s failure to support this kind of technological development 2 years ago led to a proposed project in Peterhead being transferred to Abu Dhabi.

Commenting, Mr Stevenson said:

“The Treasury’s change of heart over Carbon Capture technology only serves to demonstrate how dearly their dithering and incompetence has cost Peterhead. While Peterhead could have been leading the world in developing this vital technology, the Treasury instead decided to torpedo the plans two years ago.

“Although I welcome the fact that they have now recognised the potential importance of CCS technology in the fight against climate change, I know that there will be a deep degree of anger in Peterhead over their change in position. If it is right to support the development of carbon capture through an incentive scheme now, why was it not right two years ago?

“The Chancellor owes the people of Peterhead an apology for the mixed signals and previous lack of support from his department. Their previous failure has caused serious damage to Peterhead and the fight against climate change more generally”.

SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford added:

"This is too little, too late from the UK Government. Local MP Alex Salmond urged successive Energy Ministers to act to secure this project for Buchan but London chose instead to squander the opportunity.

“The spin-offs for the local economy in terms of contracts and jobs from a multi-million pound project such as this would have been immense. Coupled to that, the North-east would have been the first in the world with this new technology and we have missed out on the valuable prestige that this would have given Peterhead.”