SNP VICTORY AS GAS PROJECTS TO BE INCLUDED IN CCS LEVY

SNP VICTORY AS GAS PROJECTS TO BE INCLUDED IN CCS LEVY

CHANGE OF HEART IS ‘BETTER LATE THAN NEVER’

SNP MP and Energy Spokesman, Mike Weir, has welcomed confirmation from Energy Minister Lord Hunt today (Wednesday) that the UK Government is taking forward SNP demands and lodging amendments to the Energy Bill to extend the CCS levy to allow gas projects to be included.

Mr Weir, who is a member of the House of Commons Energy and Climate Change Committee, originally lodged an amendment calling for the extension when the Energy Bill was at committee stage.

Commenting, Mr Weir said

“This is a welcome climb down by the UK government and great news for Scotland’s renewable sector.

“Scotland has some of Europe’s largest carbon storage reserves in our North Sea oil and gas fields combined with the expertise on how to access them. Including these measures in the Energy Bill is a major step forward in ensuring Scotland’s full CCS potential is realised.

“For too long, the UK Government has dithered over developing this vital resource and now – as a result of SNP pressure – they are finally taking steps to support the sector.

“The inclusion of gas projects mean that there will be greater opportunities for Scotland to take full advantage of the possibilities of CCS not only for our coal fired developments but also for existing gas fired stations.

“This change of heart is better late than never. Scotland has huge potential for CCS at our power stations and with containment in the North Sea. We can open up a whole new industry that will also link in with the existing North Sea oil and gas industry.

“Scotland could have been the world leader in CCS had the UK Government given sufficient backing to the proposed development at Peterhead, instead it let that go overseas with its blinkered attitude to only developing coal based CCS.

“I hope that developments such as that at Peterhead can now be reconsidered and the full potential of this technology realised.”