The SNP has criticised the UK government for scrapping a proposed £1 billion carbon capture and storage scheme at Peterhead in 2015 – only to re-identify the site as a key region for the technology this week.
Three years ago, then-Chancellor George Osborne announced £1 billion of potential funding had been axed in 2015, costing jobs and investment in Peterhead, where the power station had been earmarked as a potential site for CCS.
However, a new report by the UK Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage Task Force (CCUS), has described the facility as having “unique potential” for the project due to its links with the oil and gas industry.
SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson said ‘this was clear for all to see in 2015’ and has now demanded that the UK government quits stalling and gets on and delivers.
The Banffshire and Buchan MSP added: “It has taken the UK Government three years to reaffirm what they already knew about the opportunity from CCS.
“In 2015, then-Chancellor George Osborne scrapped funding which could have transformed energy in Scotland and beyond and brought hundreds of jobs to Peterhead.
“There are already a number of projects in place including the Acorn Demonstrator Project at St Fergus.
“I am pleased the government has set up a taskforce and is now reconsidering its options but this is a complete waste of money and time given that the benefits were for all to see three years ago.
“But we’ve had enough stalling – the UK government must now get on with delivering the project at Peterhead.”
25 Jul 2018
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