Previous Year Question

The correct answer is (b) Aberdeen.

Aberdeen is situated on the north-east coast of Scotland and has long been known as the “Oil Capital of Europe” because of the development of the North Sea oil and gas industry.

Particularly after major petroleum reserves were discovered in the North Sea during the 1960s and 1970s, Aberdeen developed into an important centre for offshore oil and gas exploration, engineering, subsea technology, drilling services and the petroleum-related supply chain. Its harbour and proximity to the North Sea oil fields also played an important role in this development.

Over time, Aberdeen's identity has expanded beyond petroleum. Expertise developed in offshore engineering is increasingly being applied to renewable energy, offshore wind, hydrogen and energy-transition technologies. As a result, current official planning documents also commonly describe Aberdeen as the “Energy Capital of Europe.” Scottish official records acknowledge both its historical designation as the “oil capital of Europe” and its later transition towards a broader energy-capital role.