The party recently joined forces with the SNP to ensure a ban on shale extraction continues in Scotland, despite the need to find more energy sources.
And today, INEOS’s shale chief Gary Haywood has written to MSP Claudia Beamish, criticising her remarks about fracking.
In an open letter, the Labour MSP recently said: “For Scottish Labour, the science is clear, the last thing our planet needs is another fossil fuel. That’s why we believe there should be no ifs, no buts, no fracking in Scotland.”
However, in a stinging response, Mr Haywood pointed out those remarks also suggest Labour is against all fossil fuel extraction, adding: “This position would imply that you will also oppose further North Sea developments, and conventional onshore oil and gas development.”
He goes on: “If you believe that there is a credible way forward for our society in the near and medium term without substantial use of gas, then I invite you to articulate what this might be. General statements such as ‘renewables are the future’ will not do the job.”
The Scottish Conservatives are the only party at Holyrood keen to explore the possibility of fracking.
The party has repeatedly argued it could provide jobs for those lost in the North Sea, and help drive down people’s bills.
Scottish Conservative energy spokesman Alexander Burnett said:
“INEOS is quite right to ridicule Scottish Labour’s nonsensical position on this.
“Labour are pandering to the green lobby without any thought for the consequences.
“This mindless approach could mean Scotland misses out on a jobs boom and the opportunity to get people’s energy bills down.
“And it exposes the SNP’s hypocrisy on the issue; in public it pretends it hates shale, but in private it tells potential investors to hang on just a little longer.
“We need to explore fracking, and we need to do so as soon as possible.”