Trade Union GMB Scotland said today that the news that the UK will not have enough gas to meet demand during the current inclement weather period is a ‘sobering reminder’ about the need for domestic gas production.
The warning, issued this morning by the National Grid, has been provoked by increased demand caused by the Beast from the East weather front which has engulfed the UK.
Gary Smith, GMB Scotland secretary, said: “The National Grid’s decision to issue a ‘gas deficit warning’ to the market is a sobering reminder of the fragility in our domestic energy supply and should reignite the debate over our energy future.
“Around 1.9 million Scottish households depend on gas as their primary heating source, independent analysis shows the choice facing Scotland is not one of whether to include gas in our energy mix for the foreseeable future, but where the gas will come from?”
According to GMB Scotland, the current cold front has resulted in an ‘estimated shortfall of 48 million cubic meters of gas’ across the UK as demand has hit a six-year high.
Issues surrounding increased demand, alongside problems with the UK’s interconnector network with Norway and the Netherlands means that the National Grid will have to ‘reimburse gas production firms’ to ensure supply.
Mr Smith added: “Scotland and indeed the rest of the UK could and should be self-sufficient and its a fundamental failure in our politics that we are increasingly reliant on imported gas, not just from the likes of Norway and the Netherlands but also Russia and the Middle East.
“Unfortunately the direction of travel on domestic gas policy is a prescription for economic instability, rising consumer costs and ultimately, increasing levels of fuel poverty for hundreds of thousands of families.
“GMB is clear that we need a balanced energy policy which uses all our viable sources as we make the transition towards a low-carbon economy – but the continued pandering of many politicians to a superficial green lobby means more gas shortages will be inevitable.”
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