Loss of Peterhead Project Proves Lack of Commitment

UK GOVT's EMPTY WORDS ON CARBON CAPTURE CONDEMNED

Local MSP Stewart Stevenson and SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford have condemned the UK Government’s empty words on supporting the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology after a commitment to bring forward legislation to “support carbon capture and storage and to help more of the most vulnerable households with their energy bills” was made in the Queen’s Speech.

The UK Government has promised such support regularly since 2005, yet its lack of support for developing the technology in Peterhead meant that the vital project there was lost to Abu Dhabi in 2007.

Commenting, Stewart Stevenson MSP said:

“The UK Government may have again offered warm words when it comes to developing vital carbon capture technology, but people in Peterhead have seen first hand just how empty those words have been in the past.

“Peterhead could have been leading the world in the development of the technology, with all the economic and environmental benefits that would bring, but the UK Government’s dithering and delay 2 years ago meant that the project was transferred to Abu Dhabi."

Eilidh Whiteford added:

“The fact that the UK Government continues to proclaim its commitment to seeing carbon capture developed, despite having previously torpedoed the project in Peterhead, is an insult to those who could right now have been working on that technology.”