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Mark Williamson

Mark Williamson

Herald Scotland

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US and Israeli investors set for North Sea bonanza amid Iran war oil price surge

US and Israeli investors set for North Sea bonanza amid Iran war oil price surge

Overseas investors eye big increases in payouts by North Sea firms as Iran war fuels dramatic rises in oil and gas prices North Sea giants have...

10.03.2026 10

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

SNP Government problems mount as offshore wind bubble bursts

Hopes that the renewables industry will power a jobs boom in Scotland are fading fast amid fresh signs oil giants are losing interest in key projects...

24.02.2026 8

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

North Sea oil giant rubs salt into SNP Government wounds

North Sea oil giant underlines scale of SNP Government's delusions about the potential of the renewables industry after axing major windfarm project ...

11.02.2026 10

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

SNP Government hopes for renewables bonanza sinking off Scottish island

SNP Government hopes for a green jobs boom in Scotland are fading fast amid growing fears about the future of projects worth billions of pounds John...

28.01.2026 6

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

Scottish energy giant vindicated after spat with US investors

While SNP Government predictions that renewables would fuel a boom in Scotland have proved mistaken an energy giant is creating valuable jobs in...

14.01.2026 10

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

Scotland counts cost of oil giant’s huge investor payouts

Amid talk of a crisis in the North Sea an oil giant has underlined the appeal of assets in the area after making hefty job cuts which it blamed on...

31.12.2025 10

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

SNP Government boast about Scotland's renewables 'blessings' daft after setbacks

The SNP Government has tried to rekindle hopes of a renewables jobs boom as the wait for ministers to finalise an energy strategy drags on John...

17.12.2025 10

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

North Sea exploration ban senseless amid looming gas supply threat in Scotland

North Sea oil and gas firms were left reeling on Budget day after getting a double-dose of bad news that will increase fears of hefty job losses in...

03.12.2025 8

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

SNP Government hopes for floating windfarm boom sunk by North Sea oil giant

Hopes that a new generation of floating windfarms could power a jobs boom in Scotland have been dashed after an oil giant lost interest in a £3bn...

19.11.2025 7

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

SNP Government green job failings underlined amid tidal energy setback

The SNP Government faces fresh criticism for its failure to create renewables jobs after experts undermined the case for tidal energy which it has...

05.11.2025 10

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

SNP Government just transition plans in tatters as English region powers ahead

Hopes for a just transition from dependence on oil and gas have faded in Scotland as an English region wins a renewable energy jobs boost The SNP...

22.10.2025 30

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

Shetland oil boom hopes rekindled as heavyweights expand

Oil and gas heavyweights are expanding in the West of Shetland area amid warnings the windfall tax will prompt firms to slash North Sea investment A...

08.10.2025 10

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

SNP ban on nuclear plants will see Scottish jobs lost to England

The SNP Government's ban on the building of nuclear power stations in Scotland will stop the country benefiting from a programme to develop...

24.09.2025 10

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

SNP Government's fresh just transition claims are laughable

The scale of Scotland’s reliance on North Sea revenues has been underlined as the SNP Government poses as a champion of the oil and gas industry...

10.09.2025 10

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

Windfall tax bluster no help for North Sea oil firms ahead of crunch Budget

Oil and gas giants have underlined how much money they are making in the North Sea despite warnings that tax hikes would spark an exodus from the...

27.08.2025 10

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

Oil giant hails North Sea performance as it plans hefty job cuts

Embattled oil giant BP has underlined the value of its North Sea business ahead of hefty job losses at the group as it ramped up pressure on the...

13.08.2025 10

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

Scotland set for surge in windfarm developments amid Donald Trump opposition Scotland is set to benefit from a big increase in support for floating windfarm developments but householders across the UK could pick up the related bills.

Scotland’s renewable energy drive is set to receive a big boost courtesy of energy bill payers across the UK as it becomes increasingly clear that...

30.07.2025 10

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

Just transition fund farce deepens as Scottish firms fight over windfarm scraps A flagship windfarm off Scotland will generate big benefits for investors based outside the country as the SNP Government's just transition plans unravel

As overseas investors enjoy the benefits of Scotland’s offshore wind power boom, the SNP Government has suffered a fresh blow to the credibility of...

16.07.2025 10

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

Scale of SNP Government climate change failings underlined by experts

The SNP Government has hailed the prospect of a boom in offshore windfarm development that it expects UK householders to subsidise as experts have...

02.07.2025 9

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

SNP Government renewables fixation absurd as windfarm switch off bill soars The SNP Government wants increased subsidies for windfarm developments although there are more than the country's power networks can handle.

The Labour Government has caused outrage in SNP circles by announcing plans to spend billions of pounds earmarked for clean energy projects on nuclear...

18.06.2025 10

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

Scottish hydropower boom hopes fade amid threats to bumper projects Hopes that Scotland is set for a hydropower boom that could create hundreds of jobs are fading amid concerns about schemes planned for Argyll and the Highlands

Hopes that Scotland is set for a hydropower boom are fading as giants delay key projects amid tensions with the Government. SSE and Drax caused...

04.06.2025 10

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

SNP Government oil hypocrisy shocking amid Scottish jobs cull Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes claims Scotland leads the way in the creation of green jobs despite cutbacks by renewables firms in Aberdeen

Deputy first minister Kate Forbes has ramped up efforts to convince doubters that Scotland is enjoying a renewables-fuelled jobs boom even as...

21.05.2025 10

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

Mark Williamson: Just Transition furore reignited as SNP Government flounders

As John Swinney prepares to unveil his action plan for the year after trying to burnish his green credentials the scale of the SNP Government’s...

07.05.2025 20

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

Mark Williamson: SNP Government 'laser-focused on delivery' claim rings hollow John Swinney has promised the Scottish Government will be laser-focused on getting things done but wants the Chancellor to fund key initiatives.

John Swinney has promised the SNP Government will concentrate on getting things done after doing too much strategising in the past as he made clear...

23.04.2025 20

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

Mark Williamson: North Sea giant plans $500m investor payouts amid slump fears As oil and gas industry leaders claim tax rises are throttling North Sea investment Ithaca Energy is making enough money to fund bumper payouts to investors.

North Sea industry leaders have stepped up calls for cuts in taxes that they claim are 'throttling investment' even as an Israeli-owned heavyweight...

09.04.2025 9

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

Mark Williamson: Fresh SNP Government claims about green jobs boom look deluded John Swinney has tried to revive hopes for a green jobs boom in Scotland although UK government spending cuts could pose big challenges.

John Swinney has tried to breathe fresh life into stale claims that Scotland is in line for a low carbon bonanza as the SNP Government puts faith in...

26.03.2025 20

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

Mark Williamson: North Sea drilling curb plans look mad amid Trump trade threats BP underlines value of North Sea resources as Government proposes exploration cuts that could increase UK import reliance amid tensions fuelled by Donald Trump

Embattled oil giant BP has highlighted the potential of a vast Shetland field as Donald Trump’s behaviour underlines the value of the reserves off...

12.03.2025 20

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

Mark Williamson: North Sea upheaval accelerates as buyers eye 'multiple' targets

Claims that a hike in the North Sea windfall tax would prompt an exodus from the area by oil and gas firms are looking increasingly overblown amid a...

26.02.2025 10

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

Mark Williamson: SNP Government can't blame others for its green energy failings Deputy first minister Kate Forbes has called for more Scottish windfarms to get subsidies funded by UK households as her government struggles to cut oil demand.

Deputy first minister Kate Forbes has put the onus on UK energy bill payers to boost Scotland’s flagging net zero ambitions even as the scale of the...

12.02.2025 10

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

Mark Williamson: Trump puts SNP Government on spot with North Sea oil rant Right wing US president Donald Trump has said North Sea oil production should be increased as the industry also won support from a state seen as progressive

North Sea industry leaders may be uncomfortable to find Donald Trump standing noisily in their corner as they try to make the right noises on climate...

29.01.2025 9

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

Mark Williamson: Lanarkshire battery farm coup cold comfort for SNP Government The SNP Government has hailed news that overseas investors will develop huge battery storage farms in Scotland although their economic impact may be limited.

News that Danish investors plan to build a giant battery farm near Glasgow has been hailed by John Swinney although the scheme will probably do little...

15.01.2025 10

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

Mark Williamson: SNP Government enjoys unearned renewables boost after lost year Hopes that Scotland could become a major green hydrogen producer have been boosted by UK Government move amid fresh signs that renewables activity is failing to generate the economic benefits expected.

Scotland’s reliance on the UK Government to support the promised clean power boom has been underlined even as SNP ministers highlighted how limited...

01.01.2025 10

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

Mark Williamson: North Sea jobs cull looms after blockbuster oil and gas deals Hefty job cuts are looming amid consolidation in the North Sea oil industry as giants lose interest in offshore renewables projects.

A jobs cull is looming in the North Sea oil and gas sector even as firms lose interest in the kind of renewables projects the SNP Government is...

18.12.2024 7

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson