UK government starts making contingency plans for potential energy shortages in 2006/2007 winter With the UK becoming increasingly dependent on imported gas and concerns growing about delays to vital new facilities, Mr Darling laid a new 'Statement of Need' in Parliament encouraging planning professionals and local decision makers to ‘consider the national interest when looking at planning applications’. In a statement on winter energy supply, Mr Darling also announced the formation of a new Business Energy Forum to be co-chaired by the Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks and incoming CBI Director General Richard Lambert. Mr Darling said: "Supplies of gas were maintained by the market throughout the past winter, there were no power cuts, the lights remained on.” “We need to continue working with industry to do what we can to mitigate the impact of another potentially tight winter this year. Most immediately we are establishing a high-level Business Energy Forum bringing together representatives of heavy industry, the energy sector, other users and regulators. Our eye will be fixed squarely on security of supply this coming winter. "Looking further ahead, the Statement of Need is critical. The UK gas market is evolving. Our island is being connected up to the international supplies of energy demanded by our homes and industries. "Energy industry investment to the tune of £10 billion is bringing forward vital new infrastructure such as gas storage at Humbly Grove and the Liquefied Natural Gas import terminal on the Isle of Grain. But the Government is increasingly concerned that developers are facing unnecessary uncertainty and additional costs through avoidable delays in the planning system. This has to change.”
•Date: 17th May 2006• Region: UK • Type: Article •Topic: Power management |
