The head of GB Energy has informed Sky News that it may take 20 years to fulfill a Labour government promise of creating 1,000 jobs in Aberdeen.
Sir Keir Starmer assured voters that his prominent green initiative, which will be based in the city, aims to reduce consumer energy costs by up to £300.
This initiative is one of Labour’s five primary goals for this parliamentary term, following a pledge in their manifesto to “save families hundreds of pounds on their bills, not just in the short term, but for good.”
In his first televised interview, Juergen Maier, who has been appointed by Downing Street as the chairman of GB Energy, indicated that this is a “very long-term project” that could span decades and consistently declined to provide a timeline for when household energy prices would be reduced.
When asked to clarify what “long term” meant, he replied: “Energy companies grow over 10 or 20 years, and we are going to be around in 20 years.”
When directly questioned if it might indeed take two decades to achieve the commitment of 1,000 jobs, he replied “absolutely”.
Richard Hardy, Scotland secretary of Prospect, which represents more than 22,000 workers across the energy industry, said: “I don’t want to be accused of cynicism, but I do want to see a plan.
“If what happens is that it only creates 200 or 300 jobs, then I think most people would see that as being a failure. There is a huge risk for them in not actually delivering.”
Conservative shadow secretary for energy security and West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine MP, Andrew Bowie, was also scathing in his response. He commented:
“This revelation underlines that GB Energy is nothing more than a gimmick in an attempt to distract from the danger Labour’s policies pose to North East jobs and our energy security.
“Suspicions that GB Energy would bring nothing more to Aberdeen than a small office with a plaque are proving to be absolutely correct.
“Just weeks after BP announced it was cutting 7,700 roles, it’s utterly disgraceful that as little as 200 jobs could be created from GB Energy over the next five years, while doubts remain if bills will even fall at all.
“Renewables alone can’t yet satisfy our energy needs nor provide the same number of jobs, yet Labour, just like the SNP, want to press ahead with killing off the oil and gas industry, forcing us to import expensive fossil fuels from overseas with a far higher carbon footprint.
“It’s now clear that GB Energy will do nothing to compensate for the hammer blow Labour’s policies on oil and gas have already delivered to the North East.”
