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North-east MP condemns Westminster's decision on carbon capture and storage project


By Kyle Ritchie

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Gordon MP Richard Thomson has condemned the announcement by the UK Government that it will not be supporting a carbon capture and storage project in Aberdeenshire at St Fergus.

The MP has previously given his backing to the Scottish Cluster Campaign, a cross-community, cross-business group which aims to create a unified voice for Scotland to progress along its decarbonisation journey, calling on the Scottish and UK Governments to take the actions needed for carbon capture and storage, hydrogen and other low carbon technologies to play their full part in meeting net zero goals.

The Scottish Cluster is backed by a wide range of advocates from industry and across local and regional communities, including Aberdeenshire Council, Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, along with the Scottish Government.

Mr Thomson said: “This is a bitterly disappointing decision and further evidence – if any were needed – of how little the Scottish Conservatives care about the north-east of Scotland. They are not abandoning us – frankly, they were never there for us in the first place.

Gordon MP Richard Thomson.
Gordon MP Richard Thomson.

“The carbon capture project would have been a major boost for the north-east, helping Scotland to become a world leader in clean energy and the UK Government’s decision to snub the scheme is just the latest example of their complete disregard for our energy industry.

“The UK Government swindled Scotland out of £1 billion by their actions in 2015 while posturing as environmentally friendly on the world stage – now, just before COP26 is about to start, UK Ministers have once again snubbed the north-east by refusing to support what should have been, even to them, the obvious shovel-ready project which would have brought huge environmental benefits.”


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