COURIER OPINION: Angus wind farm gas leak raises wider offshore safety concerns

As world leaders continue to debate the future strategy to combat climate change at COP27, details of a major gas leak much closer to home are concerning.

It has emerged workers on a transformer platform which forms part of the £3 billion Seagreen wind farm off the coast of Angus had to be evacuated after a leak of SF6, the world’s most potent greenhouse gas, back in June.

Developers insist the situation was handled correctly.

But it is clear that the workers union has wider fears about how the industry plans for such eventualities and looks after the safety of offshore workers when they do occur.

Safety should never be a grey area.

And the union’s concerns need to be properly addressed by the developers.

But there is also a wider issue here – of public confidence in such a major
undertaking.

Billions are being spent on Seagreen, and its presence will leave an indelible mark on the region.

The burden of responsibility on the developers is heavy.

And rightly so.