Decision not to award the north east a Green Freeport 'baffling', according to Peterhead Port chief
The Forth and Inverness & Cromarty Firth bids were successful
Last updated 13th Jan 2023
The North East of Scotland has missed out on a Green Freeport, a decision that's been labelled as "baffling" by the Chief Executive of the Peterhead Port Authority, Simon Brebner.
Bids from Inverness & Cromarty Firth and Forth were successful, whilst bids from Glasgow and Orkney were also unsuccessful.
The ambitious bid in the north east was launched in May, with hopes that it would accelerate the opening of the Acorn project and capitalise on the £400m Aberdeen South Harbour expansion.
READ MORE: North East launches bid for a Green Freeport
"I'm bitterly disappointed that our bid is unsuccessful", said Brebner, who played a key part in the bid to bring a Green Freeport to the north east, alongside the Chief Executive of the Port of Aberdeen, Bob Sanguinetti.
"It undermines the Scottish Government's new energy strategy and just transition plans and it deprives not only the North East of Scotland but the whole of the UK its opportunity to reach its net zero targets", he continued.
"It's baffling. The UK Governments claims that we are region critical for energy security seems a mismatch that we, as the energy powerhouse of Europe, are not included in these announcements.
"Our collaborative bid received unwavering support across all of the key industries, right throughout the energy sectors.
READ MORE: Two areas of Scotland awarded Green Freeport status
"So we call on both governments to take action immediately to bring a third freeport and also to accelerate the decision to announce the carbon capture cluster.
"It's claiming the north east is so regional critical for energy security and transition, but now they absolutely are turning their backs on us.
"But they have a way to sort it quickly, by showing their support for a third Green Freeport.
"That we have not been awarded this is truly baffling."