UK could face gas shortage in the next decade, government report warns
Without more decisive action in the coming years, the United Kingdom could face a gas shortage in the 2030s, an official government report has warned. The government is considering support measures for the gas sector, including subsidies for infrastructure upkeep.
An official UK government report has warned that without stronger measures in the coming years, the country could face a gas shortage in the 2030s. Under an unfavorable combination of circumstances, both households and businesses could face gas shortages during a cold period.
As the country shifts toward renewable energy, gas consumption is declining, yet gas remains crucial for heating homes, while domestic production continues to fall. According to the report, the risk would not arise during an ordinary winter but rather if extremely cold weather coincided with supply disruptions.
Possible support measures
The government is currently considering various measures to support the gas sector, including financial subsidies for storage facility owners and pipeline operators, aimed at making infrastructure modernization and maintenance economically viable in the coming decades.
UK Energy Secretary Michael Shanks stressed that any state intervention in the gas market would be an unprecedented step and called for such serious decisions to be approached responsibly. He said the country will continue reducing its dependence on fossil fuels and expanding green energy, while acknowledging the transition will not happen overnight — the gas system will remain key to the country's energy supply for decades to come. According to Shanks, the government bears responsibility toward millions of families whose homes will be heated by gas for years to come, as well as toward industries that depend on it.
The cabinet must soon decide the fate of the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas field development projects in the North Sea. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he intends to take a pragmatic stance on drilling, noting that the resource cannot be ignored while people are struggling financially.
