MP accuses First Minister of "divisive" political games over Acorn Project
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Following comments made by First Minister Humzah Yousaf during his visit to Peterhead today over the future of the Acorn Project, local MP David Duguid has hit back at the claim that net-zero transition is being held back.
Banff and Buchan Conservative MP David Duguid said: "This is another case of petty and divisive political games from Humza Yousaf and the SNP who want to shout misinformation from the sidelines - all while his party have failed to deliver its promised £80 million funding for the Scottish Cluster.
"In contrast, the Scottish Cluster has already received more than £40 million of UK funding while the Chancellor's recent announcement of £20 billion to carbon capture technology over the next two decades will help create up to 50,000 jobs.
"Every now and again an SNP Minister visits the region to complain about lack of progress but I engage regularly with the project and despite the SNP’s doom and gloom the Scottish Cluster has never stopped being developed.
“UK Government Ministers have repeatedly told us Acorn is in prime position for Track 2 sequencing prior to operational plans for 2027 and that a final decision will be made this summer.
"This has always been a question of 'when, not if'.
"CCUS must play a role in our net zero targets and is vital to Scotland’s energy future – not least for SSE and Equinor’s plans for a new thermal power station in Peterhead, which we will need to provide a stable base load considering the SNP’s continued ideological opposition to new nuclear in Scotland.
"Humza Yousaf and his party need to get off their grievance high horse, stop talking down this fantastic project and start working constructively with the UK Government and the developer to ensure its success.”
For the latest on the Acorn Project visit here.
