SNP Westminster Agriculture spokesperson and
Banff & Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford
is seeking clarification from the UK Department of Energy & Climate Change
(DECC) whether input was sought from the Scottish farming industry in the
decision to shut down one of the country’s major gas terminals for 3 weeks
during the summer.
St Fergus Gas Terminal will shut the pipeline
to Fife for three weeks from 25 August 2012 with alternative supplies during
this period only available from refineries in England at an extra cost of between
2.5 and 5ppl.
The
MP met with farmers at Turriff Show in her constituency this week where concern
was voiced that this will coincide with grain-drying operations when
peak-demand from farmers will be reached, adding extra costs to what is already
likely to be a more expensive process due to the wet summer.
Commenting,
Eilidh Whiteford MP said:
“I’ve been in communication with senior
management at St Fergus and the distributors, Avanti Gas. It seems that the date for this shutdown,
which is for essential work to be carried out and only the third total shutdown
in the plant’s history, was agreed with DECC in January 2011.
“The question which must be asked now is,
did DECC seek the views of the Scottish farming industry in reaching a decision
on this date?
“While summer may be an obvious time to
shutdown as it means a low demand from domestic gas users, shifting the closed
period by only a few weeks would have made a big difference to Scottish
farmers, who are now facing increased costs as a result.
“I’ll be raising the issue with the UK Energy
Minister to ensure that the agriculture industry is consulted on any such
future plans.”