The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Crockett fearing impact of isolating Russia on global oil and gas supply
In October last year, Aberdeen Lord Provost Barney Crockett was in Moscow promoting the city’s energy interests – and sharing a conference bill with Vladimir Putin.
Just over four months later, the Russian president has shocked the world by launching an invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.
The move has drawn global condemnation, including the imposition of sanctions and calls for the countries of Europe to try and wean themselves off Russian supplies – including, perhaps most significantly, oil and gas.
Mr Crockett told The P&J he does not look back on his visit to the Russian Energy Week conference any differently, saying: “We were there with the World Energy Council, and Aberdeen is being presented as a model for places like Moscow to emulate.”
He did not cross paths with Mr Putin – although “I was in the room while he was speaking” – instead rubbing shoulders with figures such as Moscow mayor Sergey Sobyanin.
Asked if he would return to the Russian capital following the invasion, Mr Crockett said he would if it was in the interests of Aberdeen, but “obviously not in the present circumstances”.
He added: “Of course, you don’t need to say that there will not be close relationships (with Russia or Moscow) in the current circumstances.
“I would hope that in the future, Aberdeen can rebuild relationships in a different political context.”
As president of the World Energy Cities Partnership (WECP), Mr Crockett is among the figures contemplating the extent to which governments dismayed by Putin’s actions can end their reliance on Russian oil and gas – a vital pillar of the country’s economy. He said: “One of the reasons I was in Moscow was the enormous
importance of Russia to the energy future, and you could hardly imagine worse circumstances than to have the breach at the moment.
“I think 40% of gas consumed in Europe is from Russia, 25% of oil.
“They are almost impossible to replace, and the enormous impact it’s going to have in lots of things, but most obviously at the moment prices, is going to have a huge impact on the world, and it’s quite sobering to even contemplate.”
He said much of the commentary around the issue was “over-optimistic in how easy that’s going to be”, adding that “it would take quite a long time if it was indeed even possible”.
Mr Crockett said the reluctance to invest more in gas “greatly empowers Mr Putin”, and that “if we want to reduce the power of Mr Putin – awkward as it sounds, given our decarbonisation plans – we’re going to have to start finding new oil and gas”.