Question reference: S5W-31958
- Asked by: Michelle Ballantyne, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 22 September 2020
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Current status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 8 October 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had since June 2020, both internally and externally, regarding the development of a global underwater hub near Aberdeen.
Answer
The Global Underwater Hub (GUH) is a key investment opportunity for the development of the subsea engineering sector and it is a concept that has been discussed on a number of occasions prior to June 2020 through the Oil and Gas and Energy Transition Strategic Leadership Group (SLG) and predecessor Oil and Gas Industry Leadership Group. We had signalled our support in principle early in those discussions and the GUH is one of a number of projects being considered for funding by our £62 million Energy Transition Fund, which was announced in June of this year, incorporating feedback gathered through the SLG, which I chair.
Funding will be conditional on the approval of the GUH business case and, since June of this year, the Scottish Government is working closely with project partners as this business case is developed. This includes ongoing engagement with project partners, Subsea UK and Scottish Enterprise, along with the UK Government (BEIS) who have also been approached by the sector to jointly fund the proposal.