A UK Government minister is to meet with the developers of the controversial Cambo oil field tomorrow.

Development of the site has come in for criticism over the past few weeks and drawn into an even starker focus following the publication of a UN report on climate change warning of a “code red for humanity”.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report warned that global warming will continue into at least the middle of this century, and that failure to take action to limit CO2 emissions now would mean the target set by governments – of remaining below 1.5C of warming – will be missed.

READ MORE: Oil and gas chiefs should be held to account over lack of action on climate warnings

An exploration licence was issued for the field off the west coast of Shetland in 2001, but the Oil and Gas Authority is now considering if extraction should be allowed.

Up to 132 million tonnes of carbon could be released if the Cambo field is given the green light and require a landmass 1.5 times the size of Scotland to counter.

Now, Scotland Office minister David Duguid has said he will be meeting with the developers of the proposed oil field tomorrow (August 17).

The Banff and Buchan MP said today that the entire potential stock of oil - which could produce up to 800m barrels - would not necessarily have to be used.

“If the Cambo field does get the go-ahead, that will get the go-ahead to extract that oil and gas,” he said on Good Morning Scotland.

“What you’re talking about is the consumption and combustion of that oil and gas.”

Duguid will meet Siccar Point Energy – the firm looking to lead the extraction – on Tuesday.

READ MORE: Cambo oil field developer hit with criticism for tax haven status

Siccar has a 70% stake in the proposed development of the site after a 30% stake was sold to the Anglo-Dutch oil giant shell in 2018.

Pressed on if the UK would allow the oil to “sit in barrels” rather than be used, Duguid replied: “Technically, you could.

“That’s the beauty of oil, you can actually store it – gas is more complicated to store.

“Better to have the oil and gas there and to not need it than to need it then have to import it.

“I would much prefer to satisfy our ongoing yet reducing demand for oil and gas in this country with domestic sources than import that oil and gas from countries where we can’t be assured of the responsibility in how it was extracted.”

READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon tells Boris Johnson to 'reassess' new Cambo oil field plans

Ahead of the meeting, Duguid said he was "eager to learn more" about the project, adding: “As we transition to cleaner, low-carbon and renewable energy, demand for oil and gas is declining and will continue to do so, even with new fields such as Cambo.

“But until that transition is made, as the UK Government is pioneering with the North Sea Transition Deal, sources like Cambo are still required."

He said the IPCC advises that oil and gas will continue to be needed for the production of everyday essentials and it is "far preferable" for the UK's need to come from domestic supply.

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Last week, Nicola Sturgeon made her first public intervention on the issue, calling on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to “reassess” licences already granted, including for Cambo.

The First Minister said in a letter: “Such licences, some of them issued many years ago, should be reassessed in light of the severity of the climate emergency we now face, and against a compatibility checkpoint that is fully aligned with our climate change targets and obligations.”