Moray MP Douglas Ross says he is “absolutely delighted” with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s confirmation of funding for the carbon capture storage Acorn Project near Peterhead which is projected to create up to 21,000 new jobs.
Douglas also welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement of 100 new North Sea oil and gas licences as he visited Aberdeenshire.
The Moray MP says this major energy policy announcement from Rishi Sunak is confirmation that it is only the UK Government and the Conservatives who are on the side of highly-skilled workers in the energy industry, who are based in his constituency.
While Douglas accepts that bold measures must be taken to achieve ambitious net zero targets, he says he welcomes the recognition from Rishi Sunak that the taps cannot be turned off in the North Sea immediately.
He says that’s in sharp contrast to Labour’s position under Keir Starmer who have refused to back new licences and the SNP-Green coalition in Scotland who have been similarly hostile to the industry.
Douglas says the Acorn Project will play a “vital” role in the just transition to net zero and is a huge shot in the arm for the North-East economy.
Douglas added that he will continue to be a “strong voice” for the oil and gas industry and work closely with the Prime Minister to stand up for highly-skilled workers in Moray, employed in the sector.
Moray MP Douglas Ross said: “I am delighted with the bold and positive announcements for our energy industry by the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as he visited the North East of Scotland.
“The decision to grant 100 new North Sea Oil and Gas licences is a real sign of commitment to the highly-skilled workforce, many of whom are based in my Moray constituency.
“While we must achieve our ambitious net zero targets, we cannot simply turn the taps off immediately in the North Sea while there is still demand for these fuels. The only alternative is more expensive oil and gas imported from abroad with a great carbon footprint.
“It is welcome that Rishi Sunak has once again recognised this, which is in sharp contrast to the hostile attitude towards the industry from other parties like Keir Starmer’s Labour party and the SNP-Green nationalist coalition. Their reckless policies would leave people in Moray reliant on costly foreign imports from tyrants like Putin in Russia, and drive up their energy bills.
“With the green light also being given to the carbon capture project near Peterhead, this is a huge shot in the arm for the local economy and it will play a vital role in the transition to net zero.
“I will continue to be a strong voice for our energy sector which supports so many jobs in Moray and across the North East and I will do so in tandem with the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who has shown he is fully on the side of workers and the industry with these announcements.”