MSP calls for UK Government to “wake up” to CCUS need in Scotland
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Aberdeenshire East MSP Gillian Martin has called on the UK Government to “wake up” to the need for Carbon, Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) to help support climate target ambitions in Scotland.
It comes after Ms Martin led a debate in the Scottish Parliament on the UK Government’s decision to hold the Acorn Project in Aberdeenshire back from its Track-1 programme for development.
The debate in Holyrood received cross-party support only weeks after the HyNet and East Coast Clusters in England were announced as going forward despite previous suggestions the Acorn Project in Aberdeenshire would be going forward in the Track-1 programme also.
Ms Martin said the Acorn Project was essential for the north-east of Scotland to make a just transition and move away from a reliance on oil and gas over time.
Support for the Acorn Project has been received from industry and key stakeholders including Sir Ian Wood and the chief executive of OGUK who warned all five projects being considered for CCUS should be given equal support.
The UK Committee on Climate Change has also backed the project with its chief executive Chris Stark describing it as a “slam dunk”.
Commenting, Gillian Martin MSP said: “The future of the Acorn Project is not just a north-east issue – it is one for families right across Scotland who are reliant on oil and gas and their supply chains for their incomes, either directly or indirectly.
“But a project like Acorn will well be served by the talent pool we have in the north-east and that is a significant argument for it to be put onto Track-1 status.
“We have possibly the most concentrated transferrable skills base on our doorstep as well as the universities to enable the innovation that will surround the project.
“The UK has the opportunity to deliver ‘at scale CCS’ then progress further to export this Science and Technology knowledge to the world.
"Acorn can deliver the starting point to help the developing world to decarbonise.
“This project will support thousands of jobs and investment in the north-east and the longer-term expansion of the cluster would unlock further economic benefits with safeguarding of industrial jobs in sites across the UK.”
“It is time for the Scottish Conservatives and the UK Government to wake up to the need to push ahead with the Acorn Project now, not later.”
