Call for NSTA to be ‘lead body’ in North Sea regulator shake up
The former Scottish energy minister has called for the NSTA to be the “lead body” in a regulatory clear up for the North Sea.
fergus ewing
Ex-Scottish and UK ministers sign ‘unprecedented’ political declaration backing oil and gas
An "unprecedented" declaration has been signed by five former UK and Scottish Government ministers urging support for the oil and gas industry.
Sturgeon: Increasing North Sea production to offset price rise is ‘not credible’
Ramping up the production of oil and gas in the North Sea in response to rising prices caused by the invasion of Ukraine would be "impractical", Nicola Sturgeon has said.
Former SNP energy secretary condemns ‘extreme’ Green policies for oil and gas
A former SNP energy secretary for Scotland has taken aim at "extreme" Scottish Green policies on the country's oil and gas production which he said will be required for "a much longer period."
Sturgeon oil stance putting private investment in Acorn ‘at risk’, says NE MSP
It is feared that Nicola Sturgeon’s recent comments on North Sea oil and gas may harm a key Aberdeenshire decarbonisation project.
1GW of wind energy installed in Scotland’s national forest
A new Scottish onshore wind farm has been installed with the capacity to generate enough energy to power 500,000 homes a year.
Fracking ban calls issued as Keith Brown takes on Scottish energy portfolio
Fracking opponents have welcomed Fergus Ewing’s removal from the Scotland Government’s energy brief and called on his successor Keith Brown to ban the divisive gas extraction technology.
Fergus Ewing removed from energy brief in Scottish cabinet reshuffle
Nicola Sturgeon has unveiled her new Cabinet in a reshuffle which has removed Fergus Ewing from his energy role.
Exclusive: Scottish Gov mounts pressure on UK Gov over OGA appeals process
Energy Minister Fergus Ewing today called on the UK Government to spell out exactly where the the Oil and Gas Authority's appeals process would be held or risk losing out on a specialised skills set.
Ewing accuses Westminster of abject failure on energy policiy
Scotland's Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has said the UK Government has failed to keep the country's power stations open and protect energy security after Westminster brought forward plans to ensure there is enough electricity to meet peak demand.
£7.75million cash boost for tidal-energy project
Orkney firm Scotrenewables Tidal Power (STP) has been awarded a £7.75million grant to advance the commercialisation of its floating tidal-energy technology, it was announced today.
Scottish Government accused of dodging crisis in North Sea
The Scottish Government has been accused of trying to "dodge" the crisis in the North Sea oil and gas industry.
Almost 10,000 jobs lost in North Sea oil and gas sector
Almost 10,000 workers have now lost their jobs in the North Sea oil and gas sector, according to Energy Minister Fergus Ewing.
Ewing calls for unity to aid North Sea revival
Scotland's energy minister has called for unity in the battle to put the oil and gas sector on the road to a bright future - and insisted now is not a time for political point-scoring. Fergus Ewing said everyone with an interest in the North Sea industry should pull out all the stops to help it through a crisis caused by the cocktail of rising costs, the collapse in oil prices and a tax regime in need of an overhaul.
Energy Minister says plans afoot to revive “corpse” of Peterhead CCS project
Attempts are being made to revive the “corpse” of the carbon capture and storage (CCS) project which had been destined for Peterhead, Scotland’s energy minister said yesterday. But Fergus Ewing said none of the other options being mulled would be easy to put into practice. Plans to build the CCS plant were derailed in November following the UK Government’s decision to cut £1billion worth of funding for the technology.
Fergus Ewing: End the trash talk
There is little doubt that the ongoing period of low global prices poses significant challenges for the oil and gas sector and our thoughts remain with the workers, such as those facing redundancy at BP, who have been affected.
Opinion: We will do all we can to support North Sea workers
As 2015 draws to a close, we are on track to see the first annual rise in oil production for 15 years. This fact may seem strange to those who have only considered the sustained low oil price that has dominated the headlines in 2015, but it is a positive sign from an important industry that is adapting to a changed landscape. DECC statistics show that production of petroleum is 32% higher and natural gas production is 8.6% higher in the three months June to August 2015, compared to the same period in the previous year.
Ministers agree £195,000 package for steel plants
Scottish Government Ministers have agreed a support package worth £195,000 to retain staff at two steel plants. The move will see a number of staff paid 60% of gross salary and advanced training to ensure the plants – Dalzell and Clydebridge – can reopen quickly.
Renewables puts £10million back into Scottish community
The Scottish Government said the renewables industry has helped to put £10million back into the Scottish community following a record year. Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said there were now more than 150 projects on the community renewables register with millions of pounds paid out to communities from renewables developments. Meanwhile a target for community or local ownership of renewables was met five years early, with 508MW of capacity now operational.
EV Insights: Energy Voice’s top columns from 2015
Throughout the holiday season Energy Voice will be taking a look back at some of our most read columns from 2015. From oil and gas leaders, politicians and leading think-tanks here’s what the industry was talking about this year.
Bid to find new operator for Tata steel plant continues
Efforts to secure a new operator for two closure-threatened Lanarkshire steel plants will continue, Business Minister Fergus Ewing has vowed.
Highland windfarm schemes rejected by Scottish Government
Ministers have refused to give consent to two proposed wind farms in the Highlands as they would have a “significant and unacceptable” impact on landscape.
Ewing calls for end to uncertainty over renewable heat incentives
The uncertainty surrounding Renewables Heat Incentives for Scottish businesses has gone on too long, according to Scottish Energy Minister Fegus Ewing
UK stance on renewables “anti-business and anti-environment”
Holyrood’s Energy Minister has hit out at David Cameron over his “perverse“ stance on renewables.
Scottish Government puts moratorium on underground coal gasification
The Scottish Government has announced it has put in place a moratorium on underground coal gasification (UCG) in Scotland, following on from its existing fracking moratorium.