The Scottish Government has been criticised for its opposition to North Sea oil and gas exploration after insisting Vladimir Putin threatening the West's energy security did not justify approving more fields.
Liam Kerr, the Scottish Tories' shadow energy secretary, urged a rethink of the hostility to drilling in the North Sea amid a drive to reduce Europe's reliance on Russian oil and gas.
While energy policy is reserved to Westminster, Mr Kerr argued that the Nicola Sturgeon's stance against fresh exploration would "leave us over-reliant on costly imports to meet our energy demand".
He accused the first minister of being more interested in "trying to appease" her Scottish Green coalition partners than taking advantage of domestic oil and gas production to secure the country's energy supply.
Decarbonise
But Michael Matheson, the SNP's Energy Secretary, argued that "the climate crisis we face has not gone away" and claimed the answer to Britain's energy security is to "decarbonise at a faster rate".
He castigated Mr Kerr for claiming that energy security was even "an issue"- claiming that 98% of Scotland's electricity comes from renewable sources.
Mr Kerr replied: "I thank the Cabinet Secretary for that answer which I think boils down to that the Scottish Government will not be reviewing its position."
The First Minister disclosed last November that she was opposed to the development of new oil and gas fields in the North Sea.
Barely a fortnight later Shell pulled out of the Cambo project near Shetland.
Reaction
Russell Borthwick, chief executive of Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, said: “North Sea oil and gas will remain an essential part of the UK’s energy mix in the transition to net zero over the coming decades.
“This was the case before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the current crisis further underlines just how crucial domestic supplies are for our energy security.
“AGCC is clear that new North Sea exploration and development will be required to meet projected energy demands through the transition period, to offset declining production and to avoid a ‘cliff-edge’ for an industry which supports 160,000 jobs. It will also fund the billions of pounds of investment required to unlock our green energy potential.
“With a volatile period ahead for global energy markets and an unfolding cost of living crisis, we must look at urgently reducing the UK’s exposure and reliance upon imported hydrocarbons.
“While governments and businesses must scale up support for and investment in renewables, carbon capture and hydrogen technologies, the immediate challenges of demand will likely require more North Sea exploration and production in the interim.”