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Chamber and committees

Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 14 July 2025
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Displaying 1481 contributions

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Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid)

Economy (North-east Scotland)

Meeting date: 15 December 2021

Jackie Dunbar

I am sorry, but I am just about to finish—I have only 20 seconds left.

The fact that it is on a reserved list means that those companies have no way of getting recompense for the money that they are spending, because there is no guarantee that Acorn will come on stream. That is what is shameful.

16:30  

Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid)

Economy (North-east Scotland)

Meeting date: 15 December 2021

Jackie Dunbar

I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak in this debate. It feels a bit like déjà vu, because I spoke about the issue in last week’s debate on the just transition. I will probably use some of my words from last week, Presiding Officer, so please forgive me.

It is no surprise that the north-east has relied on the oil and gas industry for many years to provide vital jobs and investment in the region. As a result, it has flourished. My family has been brought up with money that was earned through the oil and gas industry. My other half has worked in the industry for most of his life and my daughter is now an operational technology engineer who spends an awful lot of time on oil rigs doing her work—dinna ask me exactly what she does, because she is a lot brainier than I ever will be.

Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid)

Ending the Not Proven Verdict

Meeting date: 15 December 2021

Jackie Dunbar

Will the member give way?

Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid)

Economy (North-east Scotland)

Meeting date: 15 December 2021

Jackie Dunbar

My understanding is that it is Shell that has put the kibosh on Cambo.

It is a pity that we cannot agree that what we are trying to do here is protect jobs in the north-east—that is what I am doing—instead of making speeches that, shamefully, try to scare the folk of the north-east into believing that we are shutting down the oil rigs tomorrow. That is an absolute disgrace and I am getting sick and tired of hearing it every day.

Yesterday, at the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, we heard from Professor Haszeldine, who was absolutely brilliant. He talked about why Acorn was not selected. Some of what he said was spot on, and it might come as a surprise to some members. I will read a paragraph from his submission:

“Acorn has long been recognised as being the best-investigated and most mature of all the UK decarbonisation clusters. It is also low risk, because the pipelines exist, the storage site is very well investigated, and minimal new infrastructure is needed. Acorn also opens up access to 80% of the geological storage around the UK, of many diverse geological types, providing the highest chance of developing secure storage geol”—

geology; sorry, my teeth need putting back in—

“and Acorn can rapidly develop supplies of CO2 by shipping from sources around the UK”.

Those factors were not taken into account when people were looking at the contracts.

The Acorn development is huge for us in terms of moving forward with a just transition. However, the UK Government has put it in reserve. I am no expert on this, but I was told yesterday that that means that the companies that are developing technologies and investigating new ways of doing things in relation to it have no way of getting recompense—

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage

Meeting date: 14 December 2021

Jackie Dunbar

Does Mike Tholen wish to comment?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage

Meeting date: 14 December 2021

Jackie Dunbar

I thank the gentlemen for coming to the committee. The decision to put the Scottish Cluster on the reserve list has already been touched on, but what will the impact of that decision be on our emissions reduction targets?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage

Meeting date: 14 December 2021

Jackie Dunbar

Mr Dalhuijsen, what do you think the impact will be?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage

Meeting date: 14 December 2021

Jackie Dunbar

How difficult is it to do that, given that you do not know whether the Scottish Cluster will go ahead?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage

Meeting date: 14 December 2021

Jackie Dunbar

I am sorry if I put you on the spot there. I wonder whether Alan James wants to comment.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage

Meeting date: 14 December 2021

Jackie Dunbar

Yes, thank you. It was very helpful.