Imagine a conversation somewhere east of the Vistula ...
Sergey
More good energy news Mr President. Useful idiots in Scotland have persuaded the First Minister to oppose the development of Cambo – an oil and gas field. This means we can keep exporting the stuff to them.
Vladimir
Excellent. Tell me, we don’t actually pay these fools do we?
Sergey
Not at all, Vladimir Vladimirovich. There’s no need; they’re happy to help us export to them because they’re afraid of the bad publicity that opening a new oil and gas field would bring, especially as they have just hosted COP26 and want to be seen as a virtuous and highly-favoured nation by the UN.
Vladimir
Even though they will continue to need oil and gas in the transition to net zero?
Sergey
Exactly, Vladimir Vladimirovich. And the economic impact from the loss of jobs will be considerable.
Vladimir
So we keep the jobs in Mother Russia, then, and maintain our export market?
Sergey
Boost our sales, more like, even though the carbon footprint of our gas and oil is higher than theirs is (it's only 22kg / barrel). The UK gave us £4bn last year alone.
Vladimir
When Scotland is independent, maybe we can build a gas pipeline directly to Aberdeen?
Sergey
An excellent suggestion, Vladimir Vladimirovich. We could call it Nord Tartan 1.
Vladimir
Tell, me Sergey Viktorovich, how do we make sure that Scotland always hosts COP meetings?
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In fairness to the First Minister, the signals coming out of London are not exactly unambiguous about the UK's stance on the development of the Cambo and other oil and gas (and coal) fields. It would seem that the UK government would prefer to be seen to be importing oil, gas and coal because it has to, rather than being seen to exploit its own reserves through choice. This implicit policy (never openly stated) will get Greenie points from the gullible but will result in fewer UK jobs, a greater carbon footprint for the country, and £zillions spent on imports. And all because of a reluctance to admit how long the transition to net zero will likely have to be .
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