David Cameron has accused the SNP of stoking “uUnnecessary fears” about Scotland’s energy security as Longannet Power Station faces closure.
In a letter to Nicola Sturgeon, obtained by The Courier, the Prime Minister accused the First Minister of “factual inaccuracies” about the possibility of slower recovery times from black start scenarios, where the system recovers from a total or partial loss of supply.
The correspondence emerged as Energy Minister Fergus Ewing told MSPs the premature closure of Longannet at a time of falling spare capacity in the system is a “national scandal”.
Mr Cameron wrote: “Even if Longannet were to close, Scotland will continue to benefit from two nuclear power stations providing reliable baseload; a gas power station at Peterhead which is already investing with significant UK Government support in carbon capture and storage; and, as part of the single GB energy market, access to electricity generated in England and Wales.”
He added: “We should not fuel unnecessary fears when the evidence shows that we have a secure electricity system throughout Great Britain.”
The Conservative leader insisted “major investments” were being made in the renewables industry in Scotland which will bring “jobs and security” to the country.
Operator Scottish Power has said Longannet will “in all likelihood” shut by March 2016 after losing out on a short-term National Grid contract to Peterhead.
Mr Ewing said the Scottish Government would “strain every sinew” to help employees at the struggling Fife station if the closure cannot be averted.
The plant has been under pressure from new European Union environmental legislation and carbon taxation, combined with high transmission charges to connect to the grid due to its location in Scotland.
Mr Ewing said the UK transmission charging regime had “uniquely disadvantaged” Longannet, which was forced to pay £40 million to connect to the grid.
He said: “We believe the decision taken by National Grid and endorsed by the outgoing UK Government is flawed, and it fails to take account of serious flaws in the UK electricity supply system.”