SCOTLAND’s Energy Minister, Paul Wheelhouse, and Claire Perry, the UK Minister for Energy and Climate Change will be quizzed by Westminster’s Scottish Affairs Committee later as it takes the final evidence session of its inquiry on Scottish oil and gas.
Although the value of oil and gas produced in Scotland in 2017-18 was estimated at £20 billion, the industry’s future is uncertain because of fluctuating oil prices and a drive towards greener energy sources, in line with global climate change commitments and Scotland’s ambitions in this area.
So far, the committee has investigated the government’s strategy for maximising economic recovery (MER), along with calls for further investment through a sector deal and the future decommissioning options for Scotland’s oil and gas industry.
It has also covered the potential for carbon capture and storage (CCS) and opportunities which arise from energy transition. This session of the committee will question ministers on government ambition for the future of the industry, which will cover issues such as financial support for clean growth.
The first will hear from Wheelhouse and Kersti Berge, the Scottish Government’s Director of Energy and Climate Change, while Perry will appear at the later session.
Scotland’s North Sea oil and gas have been the subject of often heated debate since they were discovered in the 1970s.
However, official figures have shown that in 2017-18, the approximate value of oil and gas produced in Scotland was estimated at £20bn – an increase of 18.2% in sales value that came despite a slight decrease in production as prices continued to rise through 2017 and earlier this year.
The same figures showed that in the same period, oil and gas fields in Scotland accounted for 96% of UK crude oil and natural gas liquids (NGL) production, and 63% of UK natural gas production.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel