Brent platforms warning must be taken seriously
Mark Ruskell MSP, Environment spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, today (10 April) welcomed comments from environmental groups who have rejected Shell's plans to leave redundant oil rigs in the North Sea.
WWF Scotland, Greenpeace UK, the Marine Conservation Society, Friends of the Earth Scotland, Kimo, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, the Scottish Wildlife Trust and RSPB Scotland say that Shell has not provided enough detail on its plans for the Brent platforms and pipelines.
Mark Ruskell MSP said:
"There is a huge jobs opportunity from decommissioning old North Sea infrastructure, as the Green MSPs’ Jobs in Scotland's New Economy report showed. Today’s warning from numerous environmental groups about Shell's plans must be taken seriously. Cleaning up the legacy of the Brent oilfield is a chance we cannot afford to miss.
"The four platforms and associated miles of pipelines are on a much bigger scale than the Brent Spar project, which saw public condemnation, boycott and direct action against Shell when they tried to sink a redundant rig. Big oil already receives generous public subsidy to extract a resource we know we have to start leaving in the ground. It would be wrong for this same industry to be allowed to walk away from a situation that could create jobs and protect the marine environment we all rely on."