This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-42624580

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Offshore platforms 'should be cleaned and left behind' Offshore platforms 'should be cleaned and left behind'
(about 7 hours later)
Oil and gas platforms in the North Sea should be cleaned up and left in position rather than removed, according to a leading academic.Oil and gas platforms in the North Sea should be cleaned up and left in position rather than removed, according to a leading academic.
Tom Baxter, a senior University of Aberdeen lecturer in chemical engineering, said there was no environmental reason for removing infrastructure at huge taxpayer cost.Tom Baxter, a senior University of Aberdeen lecturer in chemical engineering, said there was no environmental reason for removing infrastructure at huge taxpayer cost.
He said platforms could instead provide ideal habitats for marine life. Mr Baxter said platforms could instead provide ideal habitats for marine life.
He suggested money for decommissioning could then be spent on green energy.
Infrastructure placed on the seabed normally has to be removed.Infrastructure placed on the seabed normally has to be removed.
In a paper to the independence-supporting think tank Options for Scotland, Mr Baxter argues that platforms do not have to be removed.In a paper to the independence-supporting think tank Options for Scotland, Mr Baxter argues that platforms do not have to be removed.
However, environmental campaigners said oil firms should not be allowed to avoid their obligations.However, environmental campaigners said oil firms should not be allowed to avoid their obligations.
In the UK, the liability for decommissioning is split between oil companies and the Treasury.In the UK, the liability for decommissioning is split between oil companies and the Treasury.
'Very resilient''Very resilient'
The cost to the taxpayer has been estimated at £24bn.The cost to the taxpayer has been estimated at £24bn.
Under international agreement any infrastructure placed on the seabed has to be removed unless there are exceptional circumstances for leaving it.Under international agreement any infrastructure placed on the seabed has to be removed unless there are exceptional circumstances for leaving it.
Mr Baxter said: "We can make these assets clean.Mr Baxter said: "We can make these assets clean.
"We can remove anything that we think might be harmful and I've yet to get an environmentalist to tell me that clean metal in the sea is a particular problem."We can remove anything that we think might be harmful and I've yet to get an environmentalist to tell me that clean metal in the sea is a particular problem.
"It will certainly rust and in time it will fall onto the seabed but the bio-community on the seabed is very resilient. It will form a reef of the material that's there and many environmentalists actually say that's a benefit."It will certainly rust and in time it will fall onto the seabed but the bio-community on the seabed is very resilient. It will form a reef of the material that's there and many environmentalists actually say that's a benefit.
"That is what they are doing in the States.""That is what they are doing in the States."
Protect environmentProtect environment
A Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy spokesperson said: "Offshore oil and gas operators must decommission installations and pipelines at the end of a field's economic life.A Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy spokesperson said: "Offshore oil and gas operators must decommission installations and pipelines at the end of a field's economic life.
"This is done in accordance with UK and international obligations and is delivered in a safe, efficient and cost-effective manner for taxpayers, while minimising the risk to the environment and other users of the sea.""This is done in accordance with UK and international obligations and is delivered in a safe, efficient and cost-effective manner for taxpayers, while minimising the risk to the environment and other users of the sea."
Lyndsey Dodds, head of UK marine policy at WWF, said: "The Ospar agreement rules are there to make sure the marine environment is protected.Lyndsey Dodds, head of UK marine policy at WWF, said: "The Ospar agreement rules are there to make sure the marine environment is protected.
"However, the rules already allow for companies to seek permission to leave some material behind, where moving it would result in unacceptable risk to staff or the environment and we support that principle."However, the rules already allow for companies to seek permission to leave some material behind, where moving it would result in unacceptable risk to staff or the environment and we support that principle.
"Given the very generous tax-breaks and incentives the oil industry has received over the years the idea that it might be allowed to wriggle out of its internationally-agreed obligations to clean up its mess is unacceptable."Given the very generous tax-breaks and incentives the oil industry has received over the years the idea that it might be allowed to wriggle out of its internationally-agreed obligations to clean up its mess is unacceptable.
"Having made hundreds of millions of pounds in profits, the polluter should now pay.""Having made hundreds of millions of pounds in profits, the polluter should now pay."