The Scottish government’s recently announced energy strategy is a fork in the road. Whatever you think of the decision to wind down oil and gas production over the next 20 years, it is going to happen and will force a major rethink of Scotland’s economy.
While the sector’s products are mostly thought of as an energy source, they are deeply embedded in many more facets of the economy. We are still heavily reliant on petrochemical-derived carbon to make a broad range of goods such as detergents, solvents, plastics, pharmaceuticals and fuel. The move away from oil and gas therefore sets in motion the need to ramp up our activity in finding and using natural, sustainable sources of carbon.
Scotland has invested in a strong base
