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Cross-party MPs sign letter asking Chancellor to meet key stakeholders over Acorn Project at St Fergus


By David Porter

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A cross-party group of MPs have signed a letter asking recently appointed Chancellor, Nadhim Zahawi, to meet with key stakeholders to underline the need for the Acorn Project to be online by 2027.

Minister of state Greg Hands meets with industry representatives to discuss carbon capture and storage.
Minister of state Greg Hands meets with industry representatives to discuss carbon capture and storage.

The letter, organised by Banff and Buchan MP David Duguid, has been sent to the Chancellor following a roundtable event held in Westminster last week.

Storegga, in partnership with Shell UK, Harbour Energy and other investors, hope the project can be operational by 2027 but have voiced concerns about further delays.

Linking carbon capture and storage (CCS) and hydrogen production in the north-east, Acorn is a key component of the Scottish Cluster, a major infrastructure bid backed by the likes of Shell, ETZ Ltd, Wood, Storegga, SSE and Ineos.

It’s hoped the project could peak at around 21,000 direct and indirect jobs.

David Duguid MP, who chaired last week’s roundtable meeting among stakeholders, said: “The reason why I have requested a meeting with the Chancellor is to reinforce the immense benefits that the Acorn Project can bring in making the UK a world-leader in carbon capture.

“Although not part of the original Track 1 selection criteria, Acorn is unique among all the clusters in being able to offer Direct Air Capture (DAC) of CO2 from the atmosphere as well as a facility to import by ship emissions from elsewhere in the UK and Europe.

“As the Track 1 Reserve Cluster, The Acorn Carbon Capture Storage and Hydrogen Project at St Fergus is still very much moving forward, and everything must be done to ensure this continues.

“The project is hugely important to the north-east and I will continue to work with developers and UK Government ministers to make sure we reap the benefits of the initiative as a region.”

Greg Hands MP, UK Energy Minister, who attended last week’s roundtable meeting, said at the time: “We are committed to making the UK a world-leader in carbon capture, and it was great to meet with industry today to discuss how we can work together to make this happen.

“This will be vital to reducing emissions, along with increasing our reliance on clean, homegrown power, and we are determined to further develop this promising sector, to bring in investment into the UK, and support new jobs across the country.”


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