Most Scots against gas imports

Aberdonians are having their say on the future of the North Sea, including producing oil and gas in “better” ways and “supporting our own economy”.

Advisory firm True North has released a study showing 76% of Scots want the UK to meet its own oil and gas demands than rely on overseas imports.

However, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed a Labour government would block fresh investment in UK oil and gas as the Scottish Government’s plan looks to accelerate the transition.

Granite City resident Sam Snell told us: “Yes, I think oil and gas extraction should continue for as long as needed in the UK.”

He added: “In the UK we produce oil and gas under strict regulation, far better than much of the world.

“It’s far better to be supporting our own economy and knowing how responsibly the oil and gas is produced, rather than importing from other countries that may have lax regulatory requirements.”

The Aberdeen local turned his attention to Mr Starmer, describing a manifesto to cut investment in oil and gas as “idiotic” and “terrible policy”.

Mr Snell’s sentiment of producing oil and gas “for as long as needed in the UK” was echoed by other Aberdonians.

Aileen Garden said: “I don’t think we should be too reliant on energy coming from Russia, I think the world is in such an awful position just now that we have to be pretty self-reliant.”

James Hutcheson has relatives who work in offshore wind, he drives an electric car and has solar panels on his home, however, he still supports Aberdeen’s oil industry.

“I think it’s important for the economy of Scotland and I think it’s silly to import oil and gas from other countries which may be doing more pollution than we would if we were extracting that oil.

“I worked in the oil and gas, I worked for BP since 1965 and I worked in the North Sea and Norway. I’m looking to go into renewable and change things but it’s still important we extract oil and gas from Aberdeen.”

Others are also looking to renewables. Ruth Dalgarno said the transition to renewables should have happened by now.

“That should have been put in place 20 years ago,” she said.

“My other half is in the oil industry but the transition over to renewables should have been done a long time ago because we simply cannot keep on going the way we are right now.”

Jenny Telfer shared the opinion we need to accelerate energy transition: “Otherwise there isn’t going to be a future as we know it. So renewables definitely has to be the future and the quicker we fully immerse ourselves in that is going to be better for the country and the world.”

Local cafe owner Iwona Szmid believes that although renewables are an important next step, global politics are a limiting factor at the moment.

“We will stay a little bit longer with oil and gas because of the situation we are in now and we need the source now.”

The Labour Party has been asked for comment.

SUPPORT: Aberdonians are also keen on wind power.