John Swinney has urged Keir Starmer to accelerate investment in Grangemouth to help secure jobs at Scotland’s largest industrial site.
The SNP leader met with the Prime Minister privately in Edinburgh today before they both attended the Council of Nations and Regions summit.
Speaking to reporters after the event, Swinney said he had pressed the UK Labour leader on the importance of avoiding “a gap between current activities and future activities” at Grangemouth.
It comes after the announcement that oil refining operations on the Forth will come to an end in spring 2025 after more than a century, with 400 jobs set to be lost as a result.
The First Minister wants funding secured to progress the long-delayed Acorn carbon capture project, which would utilise redundant gas pipelines linking the north-east of Scotland to Grangemouth.
The scheme would pipe harmful greenhouse gas emissions from various industries under the North Sea – but has twice missed out on UK Government financial backing.
Swinney said Acorn would “strengthen the response” to the impending closure of the Grangemouth refinery.
Speaking about his meeting with Starmer, the SNP leader added: “I stressed the importance of the carbon capture and storage project at Grangemouth, as it strengthens the response to the projected closure of the refinery.”
The Scottish and UK Governments previously agreed to fund Project Willow, a study examining various options to build new long-term industries at the site.
But the Unite union has previously warned it does not expect to see results from the project for another five to 10 years – which means the 400 workers currently at risk of redundancy would miss out.
Swinney said he was aware of the issue and had raised it with the Prime Minister.
“One of my biggest concerns is we are facing a very sharp timescale on the decision on the refinery,” he added. “I am worried about the transition, or the gap, between the refinery and any future prospects. So the UK Government’s involvement in Project Willow helps accelerate some of that work.
“One of the other things that would help accelerate that work, would be steps taken to advance Project Acorn, which in my view a compelling carbon capture and storage project which could provide new opportunities in Grangemouth and in other parts of Scotland.
“Making urgent progress and swift decision-making on the Acorn project is critical.”
Speaking after the summit in Edinburgh, the Prime Minister said: “I’ve had a very good discussion today about how we can work more closely together, about carbon capture, about energy, about strategies for growth, and it’s been a very constructive exercise. I’m really pleased that we’re able to take these things forward.”
Starmer said he was “committed” to investing in Scotland, including through the state-owned Great British Energy, which will be headquartered in Aberdeen.
“That’s what matters to me more than anything else,” he added, “whether people living in Scotland can see a better future, a brighter future.
“A future where there’s investment coming into where they live and where they work so their living standards can go up and they can be secure in the jobs that they have, the jobs for their children and their children’s children.
“That’s why I’m so pleased about the investment decisions that have been announced.”
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