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| Nicola Sturgeon issues warning over winter energy usage | Nicola Sturgeon issues warning over winter energy usage |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Nicola Sturgeon has said she will not support "haphazard" North Sea oil and gas projects | Nicola Sturgeon has said she will not support "haphazard" North Sea oil and gas projects |
| Nicola Sturgeon says she hopes it is "not necessary" to tell households in Scotland to restrict winter energy use. | Nicola Sturgeon says she hopes it is "not necessary" to tell households in Scotland to restrict winter energy use. |
| But Scotland's first minister warned that people should be "sensible" as she criticised UK government planning. | But Scotland's first minister warned that people should be "sensible" as she criticised UK government planning. |
| It comes after the National Grid advised of potential blackouts for households if gas supplies run short. | It comes after the National Grid advised of potential blackouts for households if gas supplies run short. |
| Ms Sturgeon also told the BBC she would not support "haphazard" new oil and gas projects, after Tory ministers backed further North Sea exploration. | Ms Sturgeon also told the BBC she would not support "haphazard" new oil and gas projects, after Tory ministers backed further North Sea exploration. |
| The National Grid has said UK households could lose power for up to three hours at a time in winter if the energy crisis escalated. | The National Grid has said UK households could lose power for up to three hours at a time in winter if the energy crisis escalated. |
| Latest headlines from Scotland | Latest headlines from Scotland |
| More stories on Scottish politics | More stories on Scottish politics |
| "There is real concern to people about energy supplies over the winter period," Ms Sturgeon told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | "There is real concern to people about energy supplies over the winter period," Ms Sturgeon told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. |
| She said there was a "lack of basic communication from the UK government" over the energy crisis. | She said there was a "lack of basic communication from the UK government" over the energy crisis. |
| Ms Sturgeon added: "That's particularly galling in a Scottish context because we are a net exporter of electricity. We generate sufficient renewable electricity to cover almost 100% of our domestic needs. | Ms Sturgeon added: "That's particularly galling in a Scottish context because we are a net exporter of electricity. We generate sufficient renewable electricity to cover almost 100% of our domestic needs. |
| "We are part of the GB grid so we are reliant on the UK government taking good decisions itself. | "We are part of the GB grid so we are reliant on the UK government taking good decisions itself. |
| "I think there needs to be candid explanation to people about the challenges that are faced, good advice to people about sensible things you were asking them to do." | "I think there needs to be candid explanation to people about the challenges that are faced, good advice to people about sensible things you were asking them to do." |
| The UK government is backing further North Sea oil and gas exploration | The UK government is backing further North Sea oil and gas exploration |
| Asked if she would ask people to limit their energy usage, the first minister said: "I hope that is not necessary," adding that she wanted people to be "sensible about energy usage". | Asked if she would ask people to limit their energy usage, the first minister said: "I hope that is not necessary," adding that she wanted people to be "sensible about energy usage". |
| The Scottish government hoped to generate the equivalent of 100% of "gross electricity consumption" from renewables by 2020. | The Scottish government hoped to generate the equivalent of 100% of "gross electricity consumption" from renewables by 2020. |
| It reached 98.6% that year, but in 2021 the figure fell back to 83.7%. | It reached 98.6% that year, but in 2021 the figure fell back to 83.7%. |
| Ms Sturgeon's comments comes as the UK opens a new licensing round for North Sea oil and gas exploration. Nearly 900 locations are being offered, with as many as 100 licences set to be awarded. | Ms Sturgeon's comments comes as the UK opens a new licensing round for North Sea oil and gas exploration. Nearly 900 locations are being offered, with as many as 100 licences set to be awarded. |
| UK business secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg said it would boost energy security and support skilled jobs. | UK business secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg said it would boost energy security and support skilled jobs. |
| 'Stringent checks' | 'Stringent checks' |
| Ms Sturgeon acknowledged that the industry was a key part of the Scottish economy, particularly in Aberdeen, where the SNP conference is being staged this weekend. | Ms Sturgeon acknowledged that the industry was a key part of the Scottish economy, particularly in Aberdeen, where the SNP conference is being staged this weekend. |
| "But we know for the sake of the planet, we need to accelerate our move away from oil and gas," she told BBC Radio 4. | "But we know for the sake of the planet, we need to accelerate our move away from oil and gas," she told BBC Radio 4. |
| "We've got to do that fairly. And we've got to do that in a way that supports the jobs to transition into green energy. | "We've got to do that fairly. And we've got to do that in a way that supports the jobs to transition into green energy. |
| "I don't support a haphazard, just give the go-ahead without stringent climate compatibility checks." | "I don't support a haphazard, just give the go-ahead without stringent climate compatibility checks." |
| Asked if such a project would be approved in an independent Scotland, she added: "Not without stringent climate compatibility checks. Not with Jacob Rees-Mogg just waking up one morning and deciding it's the right thing to do." | Asked if such a project would be approved in an independent Scotland, she added: "Not without stringent climate compatibility checks. Not with Jacob Rees-Mogg just waking up one morning and deciding it's the right thing to do." |
| Licences are being made available for 898 sectors of the North Sea - known as blocks. | Licences are being made available for 898 sectors of the North Sea - known as blocks. |
| In a statement, Mr Rees-Mogg said: "Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine means it is now more important than ever that we make the most of sovereign energy resources." | In a statement, Mr Rees-Mogg said: "Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine means it is now more important than ever that we make the most of sovereign energy resources." |
| The licensing round comes after warnings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the International Energy Agency that such projects must be halted if there is to be a chance of keeping global temperature rises under 1.5C. | The licensing round comes after warnings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the International Energy Agency that such projects must be halted if there is to be a chance of keeping global temperature rises under 1.5C. |
| Waiting times at A&E departments have reached record highs | |
| Meanwhile, Ms Sturgeon also revealed her government would release an updated economic plan for Scottish independence next week. | |
| It comes ahead of the Supreme Court hearing on the Scottish Parliament's ability to pass legislation on holding a second referendum. | |
| In an interview with BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland, the first minister was asked if there was enough time to organise and stage a vote by her target date of 19 October 2023. | |
| "Obviously, I can't determine exactly when the Supreme Court will issue its judgement after next week's hearing. | |
| "But assuming we get a judgement round about the turn of the year, then there is time for the Scottish Parliament to legislate for a referendum in October next year. | |
| "Next week we'll set out the next of the Building a New Scotland papers that will look at specifically economic issues." | |
| The indyref2 questions facing the Supreme Court | |
| Sturgeon proposes 19 October 2023 for referendum | |
| The SNP leader also defended the Scottish government's management of the NHS after unveiling a £600m plan to help medics cope with increased demand this winter. | |
| It comes after figures showed Scotland's waiting times at A&E departments hit the worst levels on record. | |
| MS Sturgeon said people "should have confidence" in the health service. | |
| "Any person whose experience in the NHS is not what it should be, that is unacceptable," she said. |