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Mark Williamson

Mark Williamson

Herald Scotland

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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.

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...

yesterday 2

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.

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 5

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 5

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 3

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 5

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 2

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 7

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 5

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

Mark Williamson: £500m SNP Government fund farce hangs over Scottish Budget The SNP Government faces increased pressure to boost support for a just transition from fossil fuels ahead of publication of the Scottish Budget.

The SNP Government has come under increased pressure to deliver on its pledge to support a just transition from a fossil fuel-powered economy as...

03.12.2024 3

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

Mark Williamson: SNP Government credibility in tatters amid Rosebank furore The SNP Government's credibility has been undermined further after a nationalist big gun attacked plans for carbon capture projects in Scotland

The SNP Government's credibility on energy matters has been undermined further by a nationalist big gun after ScottishPower provided a £1 billion...

19.11.2024 3

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

Mark Williamson: Rosebank oil field plan wins vote of confidence after tax hike Chancellor Rachel Reeves hiked North Sea taxes in the Budget but Equinor still seems keen to develop the huge Rosebank oil field off Shetland

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced increases in North Sea taxes following pressure from environmentalists but the move won't provide the fatal...

05.11.2024 2

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

Mark Williamson: SNP Government dithers as North Sea oil industry faces crisis SNP Government wins boost as green power developments are put in line to benefit from UK support scheme amid fears about oil industry outlook

The SNP Government has received another boost from Westminster as it tries to deliver the long-awaited green jobs boom although its decision to...

22.10.2024 2

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

Mark Williamson: SNP Government green jobs failure seen in English city success SNP Government green industry plans win UK funding scheme boost as lack of progress underlined by an English city's success

The SNP Government has received a boost from Westminster as First Minister John Swinney tries to maintain hopes that Scotland will some day get the...

08.10.2024 1

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

Mark Williamson: SNP Government bid to revive faded green jobs dream is feeble The Scottish Government has launched another strategy to maximise the potential of the country's green industries as the number of related jobs in the country remains well below expectations

Those who were disappointed when First Minister John Swinney said in May that the SNP Government would ease off on the visionary talk and focus on...

24.09.2024 2

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

Mark Williamson: ‘Desperately weak’ SNP Government fails on oil and renewables As the Labour Government is criticised for its North Sea tax hike plans it is supporting the renewables industry which some say SNP ministers have failed.

The Labour Government stands accused of risking the devastation of the North Sea oil and gas industry but has offered generous support for the...

10.09.2024 2

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

Mark Williamson: SNP minister highlights windfall tax benefit for Scotland The Scottish Government has highlighted the benefit of a windfall tax imposed by Boris Johnson amid delays in publication of its energy strategy

The SNP Government has hailed the boost provided to the country's finances by a tax introduced by Boris Johnson which it bitterly opposed as...

27.08.2024 2

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

Mark Williamson: Oil firms cut 'major' North Sea deals amid Labour tax hike fear Oil traders have underlined the appeal of North Sea oil and gas assets despite concerns the Labour Government's plans for tax hikes will devastate the industry.

Oil traders have shown they believe there is lots of money to be made in the North Sea even as industry leaders warn looming tax hikes will...

13.08.2024 2

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

Mark Williamson: Green energy output slump poses challenge for SNP Government

Huge volatility in renewable energy generation has underlined the scale of the challenge facing the Scottish Government in its net zero drive,...

30.07.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson