Scottish independence: EDF boss says Alex Salmond has failed to answer questions over energy market if 'Yes' campaign wins
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Version 0 of 1. Alex Salmond has failed to clear-up crunch questions over the future of the energy market should Scotland vote for independence this week, EDF chief executive Vincent de Rivaz has warned. In an email to 15,000 British staff, including 1,200 in Scotland, Mr de Rivaz said that it was “uncertain” whether there would continue to be a single electricity wholesale market after secession. He added that it was unclear what regulatory arrangements would be needed should the United Kingdom split. Sources close to the company pointed out that the way the energy market is reconstructed will be one of the main issues for negotiation with the rest of the UK should Scotland decide to go it alone. Other allegedly unanswered concerns include the impact of fiscal policies, such as pension changes, and arrangements for long-term decommissioning liabilities. The Big Six energy supplier owns two nuclear power stations, Torness and Hunterston B, north of the border, which together meet 46 per cent of Scotland’s electricity demand. Although he has raised these issues with Scotland’s first minister twice in four months, Mr de Rivaz said all he had “secured” were assurances that Hunterston on the West Kilbride coast and Torness in East Lothian could continue operating. Both are currently due to shut down in 2023. It emerged last month that Mr Salmond had told EDF that he was happy for the two nuclear plants to have “life extensions”, which some critics argued ran counter to his promise of a “nuclear-free” Scotland in the event of a Yes vote. Gary Smith, the GMB union's national officer for energy, said yesterday that Mr Salmond had "waxed lyrical" about being anti-nuclear, but had not been "candid" that the plants were vital to meet Scotland's energy needs. The Scottish Government argues that the policy is to oppose new nuclear stations at a time when the three main parties in Westminster are backing the construction of swathe of modern reactors across the UK. Mr de Rivaz told staff: “What is clear is that, beyond the primary reassurance about the ongoing operation of nuclear, the answers to these questions remain uncertain, depending on the outcome of the vote and any negotiations that may follow.” But Scottish Government energy minister Fergus Ewing hit back, arguing that all of these questions had been answered in Scotland’s Future. This is the Scottish government’s White Paper outlining policies to be adopted should the country break away from the union. “The Scottish Government plans to simplify the regulatory landscape to one that is more appropriate for a country of Scotland’s size, bringing together economic regulatory functions including energy,” said Mr Ewing. “With the powers of independence we have the huge opportunity to ensure that Scotland’s energy riches are used to benefit the people of Scotland – as all too often has not been the case within the United Kingdom.” Mr de Rivaz said that that he had also talked over these issues with Better Together leader Alistair Darling, former prime minister Gordon Brown and Scotland secretary Alistair Carmichael. He warned: “We know that whatever the result of the vote on Thursday there will be change. It will not be only an ending, but also the beginning of a new context in which any organisation which operates both in Scotland and in England and Wales will need to adjust.” Mr de Rivaz vowed that EDF would not break-up regardless of the result of the vote. |