Call to save oil jobs over climate goals

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross will argue today that protecting oil and gas jobs should be prioritised over climate change targets.

The Moray MP will warn that “too much focus” has been put on managing the decline of the North Sea and not enough on ensuring its survival.

The remarks, due to be made from Aberdeen in an online speech to more than 100 i n d u s t r y w o r ke r s , could prove controversial with suppor ters of an accelerated transition away from fossil fuels.

In his speech, Mr Ross will also call for the Scottish and UK Governments to work more closely together on their strategy and policy towards the North Sea.

The Tory leader wants the two administrations to establish a “North Sea Ministerial Wo r k i n g Group” and to join forces on a “North Sea Transition D e a l ”, ma t c h i n g each other ’s commitments.

And he will suggest an exemption to allow oil and gas workers to be tested for Covid-19 while offshore if they have been alerted by the track and trace system of coming into contact with someone with the virus.

In his first major intervention on oil and gas polic y since becoming Scottish Conservative leader, Mr Ross will say: “It’s right that we push to expand the renewables sector, we all want to meet our climate change commitments and achieve the net zero target by 2045.

“But there is far too much focus on managing the decline of the oil and gas industry.

“We need to prepare for the future but the priority for me is the 100,000 jobs in the sector right now.

“My party will not throw away oil and gas jobs to achieve climate goals.

“Both of S c o t l a n d ’s governments need to find fund ing new ways to work together on a more positive, bright future for the industry.”

S c o t l a n d ’s Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse said: “Scotland’s Energy Strategy already identifies a crucial role for the sector in the energy transition required to move to an economy and society that generates net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.

“We know how important a sustainable future is for those who work in the sector and its supply chain.

“This has been the focus of the work of the oil and gas and energy transition strategic leadership group that I chair, which has met seven times since April.

“Our £62 million Energy Transition Fund... arose from those meetings and meets the industry’s asks of us.

“The fund helps protect existing jobs as well as create new employment across Scotland by opening up opportunities through energy t ra n s i t i o n and harnessing private sector funding.

“It is anticipated that the fund will help lever in an overall funding package in excess of £900m.

“Our strategic leadership group has worked to identify support for the sec tor, including opportunities in workforce retention, skills and training, drawing upon the efforts of Oil and Gas UK’s Steering Group and the O G A’ s supply chain taskforce.

“Public Health Scotland does not currently recommend testing of asymptomatic workers prior to travel offshore because the 14-day incubation period would not remove the risk of people inc ubating the disease offshore.

“We continue to work closely with the UK Government... to ensure both governments are doing all they can to protect jobs and retain vital skills.”

NORTH SEA: Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross wants to prioritise oil and gas jobs. Picture by Kenny Elrick.