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Industry News: OEUK responds to Scottish Parliament debate on Rosebank

November 13, 2025
Industry News: OEUK responds to Scottish Parliament debate on Rosebank

Offshore Energies UK (OEUK), the leading representative body for the UK’s offshore energy sector, has responded after MSPs voted on the future of the Rosebank project at Holyrood.

MSPs backed a Scottish Government amendment from Business Minister Richard Lochhead that removed the Scottish Greens’ call to oppose the development.

The motion passed by 80 votes to 36, with one abstention, and said new oil and gas projects should only go ahead if they support energy security, meet climate tests and fit with Scotland’s net zero goals.

Mike Tholen, OEUK’s Sustainability and Policy Director, said:

“Backing projects like Rosebank means backing Scotland – its people, its skills and its world-leading energy heritage.

“This development can help secure thousands of jobs, protect vital economic value, and ensure that communities from Shetland to Aberdeen continue to play a central role in powering the nation.

“While we continue to need oil and gas, we should prioritise homegrown production. That strengthens energy security, supports industrial communities, and helps the UK produce more of the energy it needs from domestic sources.

“The public backs that balanced approach, with strong support for combining renewables and domestic production to cut imports and protect jobs. It is not a choice between renewables or oil and gas – we need both.”

Independent polling shows strong public support for a balanced energy mix that combines homegrown oil and gas with renewables. Most people think producing our own energy is better for the economy and energy security than relying on imports.

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AREG has played an important role in the growth of Scotland’s renewable energy sector, engaging the supply chain and developing the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre. However, we are only at the very beginning of the transition that AREG was established to both lead and support so there are still opportunities for companies to get into the constantly evolving renewables supply chain. We look forward to continuing our work together as renewables builds on its place as Scotland’s main source of power, and as we seek to deliver real change in the crucial areas of heat and transport.

Scottish Renewables
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Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce has worked closely with AREG since its formation. The recent progress in the developments of offshore wind projects by Equinor and Vattenfall are as a result of the work of the group over many years. The north-east is known as the oil and gas capital of Europe. At the Chamber, we believe the region must evolve its position to being recognised as the energy capital. Whilst hydrocarbons will continue to be essential in driving our economy for years to come, the generation of renewable resources will play an increasingly important role in providing cost-effective power, innovative development and economic growth.

Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce
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The enthusiasm and dedication of the early group that would become AREG was fundamental in us choosing to launch All-Energy in Aberdeen. The first tiny show was held in 2001, and AREG’s Chairman at the time, Jeremy Cresswell, played such an active role that I often describe him in terms such as All-Energy’s ‘midwife’. All-Energy is now the UK’s largest renewable and low carbon energy exhibition and conference in terms of number of attendees, space booked, and number of exhibiting companies. As AREG became firmly established, their presence and support for the event grew spectacularly over the years. We thank them most sincerely for their invaluable input.

All-Energy
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Vattenfall has forged a strong working relationship with AREG through the development of the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre. AREG has worked tirelessly on behalf of the North East and it can take enormous credit for the growth of sustainable energy in the region and the path it has cleared for the region to capture further investment.

Vattenfall
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Aberdeen City and Shire is emerging as a key location for renewables by successfully transferring its world-class oil and gas expertise into the sector and AREG has done much to advance this through a broad range of initiatives. It has acted as a catalyst in driving further investment in the local economy by engaging with companies, Government, public bodies and existing projects and we have been pleased to support their efforts. Scottish Enterprise will continue to engage with AREG as we increase Scotland’s use of renewable energy.

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