Extinction Rebellion blockade Invergordon in North Sea oil protest
Protestors have chained themselves to barrels at the entrance
Last updated 6th Oct 2021
Extinction Rebellion protestors are blocking access to the oil rig maintenance facility at Invergordon on the Cromarty Firth by chaining themselves to fake oil barrels in the road.
The activists arrived at 6.50am demanding the decomissioning of North Sea rigs and calling for the Scottish Government to 'tell the truth' about the climate crisis.
The have blocked access to the main entrance of facility at Invergordon Service Base of the Cromarty Firth Port Authority with a 4.2m tall model oil rig made of scrap materials with a banner saying “Decommission Me Now”.
Four protestors are locked onto barrels in the road, preventing traffic access.
"We have no option"
Retired history teacher John Lardner said “The Chapham House report says that even if the Paris Agreement carbon emissions were achieved, we have almost no chance of staying below pre-industrial levels of warming. We have to act now. Our carbon budget is empty. We have no option”
The group are calling for an end of fossil fuel extraction and support for a transition of skilled oil and gas workers into decommissioning and renewable industries, not new oil fields.
Other activists are holding banners nearby saying “Climate Emergency” and “No Future in Fossil Fuels”.
The protesters said they plan to stay at the site for most of the working day.
Another activist Ruth Dunster said, "Think about the disruption that there's going to be when we have floods, fires, heatwaves and mass migration. I wouldn't call it disruption, I'd call it inconvenience. We know it's inconvenient for people but if there was an emergency, like an ambulance needing through we would always make way for that"
With reference to the potential development of the Cambo site, Ruth added, "At the moment the Government is still thinking 'Do we actually go ahead with these huge new oilfields west of Shetland... or don't we?' so we can't ease up, we have to keep going"
A Cromarty Firth Port Authority spokesman said: "The Port of Cromarty Firth can confirm that the environmental group, Extinction Rebellion Scotland, are currently at the Invergordon Service Base entrance and participating in protest action.
"This is a matter for Police Scotland, who are currently on site managing the activity.
"The Port's priority is for the health and safety of all individuals at our facilities, including our staff, port users, the local community and the protester representatives.''
A Police Scotland spokesman said: "Around 6.35am on Wednesday October 6, police were called to a report of a small group of protesters at the port of Cromarty Firth in Invergordon.
"Officers are in attendance.''