- Argentina’s Energy Minister Flavia Royon leads top-level delegation visiting Aberdeen for ideas to support country’s transition to cleaner energy
- The UK’s Ambassador to Argentina, Kirsty Hayes, returns to her birthplace to promote Aberdeen’s status as a leading global hub for renewable energy
- Visit builds on Argentine President’s attendance at COP26 as UK Government continues work promoting Aberdeen as centre for decarbonisation
THE UK’s Ambassador to Argentina returned to her birthplace Aberdeen yesterday to help showcase the city’s renewable energy sector.
Aberdeen-born diplomat Kirsty Hayes is accompanying a top-level Argentinian delegation including the country’s Minister of Energy Flavia Royon on a four-day visit to the UK.
The 46-year-old Scot believes Aberdeen can play a major role in helping support Argentina’s drive to transition to cleaner energy.
She said: “This trip is very much about showcasing Aberdeen and Scotland’s expertise in renewable energy while we support Argentina as it manages its transition from fossil fuels.
“I am excited about exploring how Aberdeen’s evolution from an oil and gas centre to a more renewable energy focussed hub can help Argentina on its path to a cleaner and greener future.
“I was proud to support the Argentinian delegation that attended COP26 in Glasgow. It was the first visit of an Argentine President to the UK for 12 years. As part of that visit, they announced ambitious plans to be net zero by 2050 and this visit to Aberdeen is part of our ongoing work to support them.
“Argentina has tremendous potential particularly for wind power and it’s really positive they believe there are lessons it can learn from Aberdeen as we work together for the long-term benefit of both countries.”
The Argentinian delegation attended the Subsea Expo in Aberdeen yesterday with local representatives of BP, Shell and Glasgow-based temporary power specialist Aggreko and met with Aberdeen’s Lord Provost Cllr David Cameron and visited the University of Aberdeen.
As part of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s drive to grow the economy, creating better-paid jobs and opportunity right across the country, the UK Government is actively promoting the north-east’s talented workforce and Aberdeen’s status as one of the world’s great energy centres.
The UK Government has committed £125 million to the Aberdeen City Region Deal, which includes £90 million for the Net Zero Technology Centre, which is promoting technology to decarbonise the oil and gas industry.
Other UK Government investment in the area includes £20 million through the Levelling Up Fund to revamp Aberdeen’s city centre. While the UK Government’s North Sea Transition Deal will deliver up to £16 billion in new energy technologies by 2030.
Kirsty added: “The UK Government is proud of Aberdeen’s status as a leading global hub for renewable energy with visits like this offering business and investment opportunities for the city.
“My family left Aberdeen when I was just two, but my sister and I were both born there, and I relish any opportunity to return.
“The visit will help our special guests to understand Aberdeen’s journey to a cleaner and greener future and issues that may arise so that Argentina is not caught off balance as it pursues its energy transition plans.
Buenos Aires-based Kirsty- previously Ambassador to Portugal 2014-2018 – has served in her current role since September 2021.
Last year, the proud Scot spearheaded the British Embassy’s first Burns Supper, which raised a glass to the Argentine government reducing tariffs on Scotch whisky.
Her posting last year coincided with the 40th anniversary commemorations of the Falklands conflict, the Scotland rugby team’s friendly tour of Argentina, and football superstar Lionel Messi lifting the World Cup for Argentina.
Kirsty said: “This visit shows that there is far more to the relations between the UK and Argentina than what we usually think about.
“We work constructively together across a number of themes. Not just energy, but climate change, health, gender equality and human rights. Argentina and the UK co-chaired the Equal Rights Coalition conference in Buenos Aires last year.”
Kirsty proudly uses her Scottish roots to help with her diplomatic work.
She explained: “To be in Buenos Aires when Argentina won the World Cup was amazing. It’s funny because there’s a popular football terrace chant here that ‘he who is not jumping is English’ and I regularly point out that I can still jump because I am Scottish.
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“I might not sound Scottish because my family moved around a lot when I was little, but I was very much brought up a Scot. For example, our family were not at all disappointed when Maradona’s Hand of God knocked England out of the 1986 World Cup.
“It was great to meet the Scotland rugby team when they toured Argentina last year. We may have narrowly lost the series, but I think we won a lot of friends.
“It would be wonderful if this Aberdeen visit was to be another way Scots have a massive impact on Argentina by inspiring the country’s transition towards renewable energy solutions.”
