Johnson demands Swinney publishes energy strategy – Daily Business

Daniel Johnson: ludicrous delay

Scottish Labour’s economy spokesman Daniel Johnson has called on John Swinney to publish Scotland’s long-delayed energy strategy when Parliament returns next week.

The call follows reports that the strategy could be delayed until late next year, despite the draft strategy being first published in January 2023, and expected by summer 2024.

Mr Johnson says that 1,381 days later, Scotland is still waiting for a clear plan for the future of its energy sector.

“It is ludicrous that Scotland could be waiting until late 2027 for an energy strategy that was first drafted in January 2023,” he said.

“Workers and businesses need certainty about the future of oil and gas, renewables and nuclear. They cannot afford another year of drift, making it harder for companies to plan ahead and invest in Scotland’s energy future, putting future projects and skilled jobs at risk.

“John Swinney must stop kicking the can down the road. He must publish the strategy next week when Parliament returns. Scotland’s energy workforce deserves answers, not another delay.”

Other parties have also called on the Scottish government to publish its energy strategy.

The SNP has been criticised for sitting on the fence over oil and gas by having a “presumption against” further exploration while at the same time urging the Labour government to press the button on the Jackdaw field.

It now says it “has been clear” that utilising domestic oil and gas resources is preferable to international sources, where importation leads to a bigger carbon footprint.

The UK Government has announced a new energy wealth fund but rejected Mr Swinney’s call for it to be ring-fenced for northeast Scotland.

Following approval for the Jackdaw gas field, Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh has is now being pressed to make a decision over the Rosebank oil field west of Shetland.

She has made it clear that she will take that decision and that it is more difficult politically for the government than Jackdaw. She described it as a “regulatory process not a policy process”, governed by a set of tests she had to weigh the decision against.”

While most of Jackdaw’s gas is likely to be consumed in the UK, Rosebank’s oil will be taken off by tanker and sold on international markets.

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