By stewartb
The BBC News website (March 17) has this headline: ‘Grangemouth: A new dawn for the home of UK’s oldest oil refinery?’.
It’s no surprise to find such a long article in both the main Scotland and Scotland Business sections written by BBC Scotland’s environment correspondent. After all, it’s one of the most important topics currently in Scotland – economically and politically. The article emphasises the past and present importance of the Grangemouth refinery and its potential for the site to be important economically in future.
Readers of the BBC piece are told this: ‘The UK government commissioned a report – known as Project Willow – into the options for the site, which is expected to be published in the coming days.’
The UK government has published various press statements on Project Willow.
September 12, 2024: ‘UK and Scottish governments announce joint plan to secure industrial future of Grangemouth – The UK and Scottish governments respond to Petroineos’ decision to close Grangemouth oil refinery.’ (my emphasis)
‘The UK and Scottish governments have announced a joint investment plan for Grangemouth following Petroineos’ decision to decommission its oil refinery and pledged to work together for an industrial future for the site … ‘
UK Government Energy Secretary Ed Miliband is quoted: ‘Unlike in the past, the government is working in lockstep with the Scottish Government across every front. Workers and their families should be in no doubt this is a government that stands with workers, trade unions, and businesses to fight for jobs and investment in Scotland. ‘
October 17, 2024: ‘Progress for investment in Grangemouth’s future – UK and Scottish Governments step up plans to support workers at Grangemouth refinery, with immediate investment in skills and training.’
‘The UK and Scottish Governments are jointly stepping up plans to support workers at the Grangemouth refinery affected by the risk of redundancy, with immediate investment in skills and training.’
The lengthy BBC News article attributing Project Willow to the UK government makes ZERO reference to the Scottish Government, its efforts and investments to mitigate the harms arising from the closure of the Grangemouth refinery and to secure a viable future for the site.
It’s a new low for BBC Scotland to fail even to adequately represent UK government statements on its relationship with the Scottish Government on such an important and politically sensitive topic.
Why would a well informed BBC journalist omit to inform on the Scottish Government’s substantial contributions alongside those of the Westminster government?
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
The article from 14 May 24 from RWE announces a large scale green hydrogen plant in Grangemouth.
And gets zero media interest.
It is includes an interesting quote from INEOS.
I suspect announcements of hydrogen production will only be made by Labour when it is politically expedient for them to do so.
https://uk.rwe.com/press-and-news/2024-05-14-rwe-announces-large-scale-green-hydrogen-plant-in-grangemouth/
Colin Pritchard, Sustainability Director at the INEOS Grangemouth site, said: “We are pleased to support RWE in their investment in green hydrogen at our site in Grangemouth. This perfectly augments our project to develop a low-carbon (blue) hydrogen production unit at Grangemouth, with the CO2 exported deep underground in the North Sea via the Acorn transport and storage system. Together these projects support delivery of our net zero roadmap and place Grangemouth at the heart of Scotland’s future hydrogen economy.”
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I read this and wondered the very same thing John. I wonder if it is a pre GB energy meeting puff piece to try to make the meeting (tomorrow I think), GB energy and Scottish labour ministers look important or relevant or in any way useful? We know from long experience how a headline or promotion article can suffice as news that something is being done when the same media will ignore any later failure to achieve anything. To be seen as doing something rather than actually making a difference is all our flabby opposition parties need
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I read that and was raging
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RACISM AND BIASED OPINIONS
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unionists and Westminster propaganda machines doing what unionists and propaganda machines do. If anyone finds a way to put a stop to it I’ll be right there joining in.
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forgot to add.
John Lawson
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“Why would a well informed BBC journalist omit to inform . . .” – well I recall Keven Keane from early in 2020 when gave the Scottish Government a pasting for missing its tree planning targets when it fell 9.5% short of its target of 12,000 hectares.
There was plenty available context here – the impact of the C-19 and bad weather. and it still represented 89% of all new planting in Britain, with English planting 71% below its target of 5,000 hectares. You might have thought BBC Scotland’s environment correspondent might have thought some explanation and context would be of interest to us, but when some people pointed this out on twitter he saw no need to engage but took the huff at being criticised when he was only reporting the facts. Carefully selected facts, it seemed to me. [I can’t find the original tweets any more.]
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Thanks Stewart. ‘Economically and politically most important topic’ indeed, both in Scotland, and in England because they are hitting right where it hurts the Scottish government. Just before the election in 2026, LabCons will come out with many more lies about the oil industry and energy potential and faux English philanthropy via faux investment. They intend scamming Scotland again, big time.
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The new low even by HMS James Cook standards….. https://archive.ph/WqJDn
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Why would she ignore the Scottish Government contribution? Perhaps because he is a lying bar-steward?
Big Jon
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