Stephen Flynn warns ‘endurance rising skinny’ over CCS delays

SNP Westminster chief Stephen Flynn is heaping strain on UK authorities ministers to provide readability on carbon seize funding for the north-east.

The Aberdeen South MP is the second senior SNP determine in latest weeks to name on Westminster to finish uncertainty across the scheme.

First Minister Humza Yousaf visited Peterhead final week the place he expressed his assist of the Acorn mission, primarily based at St Fergus Fuel Terminal.

The Scottish Cluster missed out on UK Authorities assist in 2021, which as a substitute went to 2 areas within the North of England.

An replace is predicted this summer season after months of delay from the UK Authorities.

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The plan is to make use of carbon seize and storage know-how to entice dangerous emissions and transport them, both by pipeline or delivery, for everlasting storage underground.

It goals to take away climate-changing emissions from the air and assist transfer to a decrease carbon future.

Earlier this 12 months, UK ministers mentioned the Aberdeenshire scheme is “one of many two greatest positioned” for funding.

‘Endurance is rising skinny’

Mr Flynn mentioned: “I’ve misplaced depend of the variety of bulletins which have been made and a deadline is missed, snubbed or in actual fact turned out to be one other replace about an replace.

“Endurance is rising skinny and it’s time the UK authorities received the finger out and made it explicitly clear that the Scottish Cluster will obtain funding and can obtain it instantly.

“In April we have been instructed there could be an replace on Observe 2 choice and it’s completely crucial that the Tories don’t let the solar go down on a summer season timeline.”

The MP for Aberdeen South additionally referred to as for Westminster to match the Scottish Authorities’s £500 million Simply Transition Fund for the north-east.

In March 2021, the UK Authorities introduced the North Sea Transition Deal, which is predicted to unlock as much as £16 billion of funding by 2030.

‘Scaremongering’

Banff and Buchan MP David Duguid accused the SNP of “one other petty try at scaremongering”.

He added: “If the SNP actually cared in regards to the Scottish Cluster, they might be targeted on working to assist Acorn progress relatively than constantly play political video games.

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“The UK Authorities’s dedication to Carbon Seize Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) is mirrored by £1 billion for 4 clusters by 2030 and, on the spring price range, an additional £20 billion on CCUS supply over the subsequent twenty years.

“CCUS and hydrogen additionally make up a major a part of the £16 billion North Sea Transition Deal made with the oil and fuel trade.

The UK Authorities was approached for remark.

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