National Gas Transmission PLC funding allocation: EIR Review

Information requested

Original request 202500461914

You asked for “I would like to know if the £2million committed by the Scottish Government (as detailed here https://www.gov.scot/news/fast-tracking-scotlands-energy-transition/) to explore how a pipeline could transport Carbon Dioxide from Scotland's central belt to the North East has been allocated?

If it has been allocated, I would like to see the timeline for that study including when the study is estimated to conclude and/or any outcomes of that study.”

Response

I have now completed my review of our response to your request under the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs) for;

You asked for “I would like to know if the £2million committed by the Scottish Government (as detailed here https://www.gov.scot/news/fast-tracking-scotlands-energy-transition/) to explore how a pipeline could transport Carbon Dioxide from Scotland's central belt to the North East has been allocated?

If it has been allocated, I would like to see the timeline for that study including when the study is estimated to conclude and/or any outcomes of that study.”

EIR Response

The answer to your question is that £2 million was allocated to National Gas Transmission plc to support the pre-FEED phase of the SCO2T Connect project in financial year 2024/25. This was a Scottish Government grant awarded in accordance with the terms set out in the Scottish Public Finance Manual.

An exception under regulation 10(5)(e) (substantial prejudice to confidentiality of commercial information) of the EIRs applies to some of the information you have requested (any outcomes of the study). This exception applies because disclosure of this particular information would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially the confidentiality of commercial information provided by National Gas Transmission plc, their contractors and other companies who have supplied commercially sensitive data for this project and thus cause substantial harm to their commercial interests. Disclosing this information could impact future commercial negotiations between companies and UK Government as part of the CCUS cluster sequencing process, which may prejudice their ability to submit competitive tenders and could harm their commercial business.

This exception is subject to the 'public interest test'. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exception. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exception. We recognise that there is some public interest in release because disclosing information as part of open and transparent government, and to help account for the expenditure of public money. However, there is a greater public interest in protecting the commercial interests of companies which enter into Scottish Government contracts, to ensure that we are always able to obtain the best value for public money.

Review outcome

Thank you for your request for a review of the decision regarding your Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs) request 202500461914.

As part of this review, I can confirm that the SCO2T Connect project, which received Scottish Government funding in financial year 2024/25, concluded in March 2025. While this detail was not included in the original response, it is being provided now for completeness and to support understanding of the project timeline.

Following a full reconsideration of the request, I am upholding the original decision to withhold certain information under regulation 10(5)(e) of the EIRs, which relates to the confidentiality of commercial or industrial information, where such confidentiality is protected by law in order to protect a legitimate economic interest.

Specifically, the withheld information concerns the outcomes of the study funded by the Scottish Government grant to National Gas Transmission plc. I am satisfied that this information is commercially sensitive and was provided in confidence by National Gas Transmission plc and its contractors, who contributed proprietary data and insights on the understanding that this would not be publicly disclosed.

Disclosure of this information would, or would be likely to, substantially prejudice the commercial interests of the parties involved. In particular, it could undermine their position in future commercial negotiations or tendering processes—such as those under the UK Government’s CCUS cluster sequencing programme—by exposing strategic or technical information that is not otherwise in the public domain. Releasing such information could therefore distort competition and weaken the ability of these companies to operate effectively in a commercial environment.

Under the public interest test required by the EIRs, I have carefully considered whether the public interest in disclosure outweighs the public interest in maintaining the exception. I acknowledge that there is a public interest in transparency, particularly in relation to the use of public funds and the progress of projects that support climate and energy objectives. However, I find that in this case, the greater public interest lies in protecting the commercial confidentiality of the companies involved. This ensures the Scottish Government can continue to engage with industry partners on complex and innovative projects, secure best value for public money, and support the development of competitive low-carbon solutions.

Accordingly, I am upholding the original decision to withhold the information under regulation 10(5)(e) of the EIRs.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.