Scottish Deputy First Minister John Swinney has reiterated the importance of North Sea oil and gas for Scotland’s transition to net zero, stating that they would still be needed “for a period of time.” This comes as the Scottish Government published an energy strategy last year that proposed a consultation on a “presumption against” any new oil and gas exploration.
During the election campaign trail in Keith, Moray, Swinney faced questions about whether his government would avoid adopting this policy. The SNP leader did not confirm, citing the issue’s complexity, and emphasized the need for a “manageable” and “orderly” transition to net zero.
The future of the North Sea oil and gas industry has been a hot topic during the election campaign, with different parties offering their perspectives. Labour pledged to create 69,000 jobs through a new publicly-owned energy company but would not approve any new North Sea licenses. The Conservatives, on the other hand, support new exploration licenses and criticize the SNP and Labour for potentially harming the industry.
Swinney echoed his deputy first minister’s comments on the need for rational consideration of future oil and gas license applications. He emphasized the importance of accelerating the transition to renewables while ensuring the energy sector transitions quickly to realize Scotland’s net zero potential.
Amidst differing party positions, the debate on Scotland’s energy future continues to be a significant election issue, with each party presenting its vision for a sustainable energy transition.
