According to new reports, Scotland's energy minister, Fergus Ewing, said that a £30 billion bill for decommissioning Scottish oil rigs should be paid for by the UK Government. Mr. Ewing said that Westminster has a "moral obligation" to foot the massive North Sea clean-up bill. This is a cost that is predicted to come up by 2040.
The minister went on to say, when appearing before the House of Commons' energy committee, that a pro-independence referendum win did not wipe out the past benefits that the UK has reaped from these rigs. Plainly, given the UK has received about £170 billion from oil by rigs that have to be decommissioned, then the UK received the revenue in respect of those rigs.
Mr. Ewing said it would seem reasonable to suggest, after receiving so much revenue, the costs of this project, should, in principle, be in the UK's responsibility. It would seem only fair given the current situation. In principle, it seems correct that the UK has a moral and certainly a legal obligation to be responsible for decommissioning. If the shoe was on the other foot, it would be enforced as well.
Of course, Ewing did say that there could possibly be some kind of proposal to share some of the costs of decommissioning the rigs. However, at this point, he does believe most people can agree it is the UK's responsibility to see that this gets taken care of.
The labor MP for Glasgow North West, John Robertson, said that it was incredible that the Scottish Parliament wanted all the revenues from oil reserves while making sure that the UK government pays for the clean up in 28 years' time. He said that he found it absolutely incredible, and completely unfounded. Scotland has benefited as much from oil as the UK. Asking the UK to simply pick up the bill is not only unfair, but it is completely out of line.
As people can clearly see, this is not an issue that is going to be cleared up quickly. This is going to be a problem that will be dragged out for sometime. Of course, no one would expect anything less when money is involved.
