Seamus Logan MP has written to the UK Government asking for information on delays to delivery of funding pledged to the Acorn project in his constituency.
Six months ago, the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband, announced £200million for the Acorn Carbon Capture and Storage project at St Fergus in the North-east. However, this week, National Gas, who are building the pipeline feeding CO2 into St Fergus, has confirmed that this financial commitment has not yet materialised. This has left design and construction timelines on hold, creating a culture of uncertainty at a crucial development phase of this important project.
Commenting on the news, Seamus Logan said:
“As the MP for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East where the Acorn Project is located, I am astonished and concerned by the lack of delivery of these vital funds. I have written to Ed Miliband asking for an explanation as to why this financial commitment is yet to translate into cold, hard cash for this important carbon capture scheme.
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“After all, to put this into perspective, far larger funds of £22billion have already been invested in carbon capture schemes in England. Why then is the far smaller amount of £200million for Acorn not been forthcoming? I have previously raised questions over why Acorn was allocated this much smaller amount in the first place; now I am wondering if the piggy bank has run dry after the Chancellor’s chaotic Budget last week.
“This is just another example of Scotland being put to the back of the queue by the Labour Government. Although I do not question the Energy Minister’s personal and professional commitment to a renewable transition, his government’s policy decisions confer an entirely different story. Labour’s failures to protect Grangemouth and now Mossmorran is creating a climate of distrust in the industry; failure to deliver the funds to Acorn in a timely manner will only compound business scepticism. A concerning pattern of non-action is emerging, including the UK Government’s intransience on removing the Energy Profits Levy. Meanwhile the North-east is getting hammered, with job losses and draining skills and talent from a workforce and business community thoroughly scunnered by Westminster’s lack of support.
“Labour needs to decide – does it support a Just Transition in Scotland or will it allow its failings to exacerbate industrial damage on a grand scale. I hope the Minister gets back to me as soon as possible with assurances that these funds will be forthcoming immediately. Scotland’s energy future depends on it.”
