A significant vow to create 1,000 jobs in Aberdeen might take up to 20 years to materialize, according to the recently appointed chairman of the Labour Party’s flagship GB Energy initiative, which aims to accelerate the UK’s green transition. Sir Keir Starmer‘s initiative to assist oil and gas workers in switching to renewable energy employment is currently under strain due to questions regarding its timeliness and viability.
Labour’s Green Vision Faces Uncertainty
GB Energy was established to invest in renewable projects and draw in private investors, and it was declared to be a key component of Labour’s energy strategy. Instead of directly supplying electricity to houses, the project seeks to advance the UK’s renewable energy sector, which will lower consumer costs and create long-term jobs.
However, the company’s recently appointed chairman, Juergen Maier, declined to commit to a schedule for reducing household energy prices in his first interview since assuming the position. He admitted that creating jobs in Aberdeen, the location of GB Energy’s future headquarters, would probably take decades. When asked if it would take 20 years to deliver on the 1,000 jobs promised, he replied, “Absolutely.”
These remarks have sparked concern, particularly in Aberdeen, where approximately 50,000 people are currently employed in the oil and gas industry. Uncertainty surrounding the future of North Sea energy jobs has already led to calls for a more detailed roadmap from Labour, with trade unions warning of potential economic risks if the transition does not progress quickly enough.
Industry Leaders and Unions Call for Clarity
While Labour has defended its vision as a necessary step towards a low-carbon economy, stakeholders in the energy sector have voiced concerns about the lack of a concrete plan. Prospect, a union representing over 22,000 energy workers, has warned of the “huge risk” associated with overpromising and underdelivering. Richard Hardy, its Scotland secretary, stated: “If what happens is that it only creates 200 or 300 jobs, then I think most people would see that as being a failure.”
Similarly, the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce has highlighted growing uncertainty in the region. Chief Executive Russell Borthwick has stressed the need for “quick wins”, warning that confidence in the energy transition remains fragile. “Right now, this city is nervous. We need to give the industry more confidence that things are going to start moving more quickly,” he said.
The UK government, meanwhile, maintains that its ambition of generating over 1,000 jobs through GB Energy remains intact. However, with no immediate commitments on job numbers beyond 200 to 300 positions in the first five years, pressure is mounting on Labour to clarify how and when its energy transition plan will take full effect.
