UK warns of three-hour winter blackouts if gas supplies fall short
Britain braces for potential energy blackouts this winter amid supply disruptions due to the war in Ukraine
Former EPA chief of Staff Mandy Gunasekara discusses how OPEC+ is cutting oil production as gas prices surge on ‘Fox Business Tonight.’
The U.K. national power operator has warned that citizens should brace for up to three-hour power blackouts this winter in the "unlikely" event that gas supplies fall short.
The National Grid's Electricity System Operator (ESO) announced Thursday that it has taken steps to establish precautionary measures to ensure gas supplies from October 31 to March 31, 2023.
"Russia’s invasion of Ukraine means that overall, this is likely to be a challenging winter for energy supply throughout Europe," the national operator said in a statement that highlighted multiple scenarios where Brits could find their power shut off during peak use.
The Armada gas condensate platform, operated by BG Group Plc, stands in the North Sea, off the coast of Aberdeen, U.K., Dec. 11, 2015. (Simon Dawson/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
BIDEN TO RELEASE 10M MORE BARRELS FROM STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE IN NOVEMBER IN WAKE OF OPEC+ CUTS
"There may be days when it was cold (therefore likely high demand), with low levels of wind (reduced available generation), where there is the potential to need to interrupt supply to some customers for limited periods of time," the ESO said, adding that any blackouts would be "managed and controlled."
"However, our expectation is that our mitigation measures will be effective," it added.
Officials said the public can also help by not excessively using the heat and limiting power use during peak hours.
Britain’s gas stockpiles through winter are expected to be sufficient in large part due to its North Sea gas supply lines and imports from Norway.
Prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, European Union member nations relied on roughly 40% of their gas imports from Moscow.
Climate activists from the Just Stop Oil coalition arrive to block Parliament Square to demand that no new oil and gas licenses be granted by the government on Oct. 1, 2022 in London. (Mark Kerrison/In Pictures via Getty Images / Getty Images)
OPEC+ MINISTERS AGREE TO CUT PRODUCTION BY 2M BARRELS PER DAY
Though they have made moves to drastically cut imports from Russia by 90% by the end of the year, it remains unclear how much the EU has continued to import from Moscow, particularly amid continued supply disruptions.
The U.K. has relied significantly less on the Kremlin for its energy needs and imports just 3% of its gas from Russia.
An employee walks downstairs in view of a gas burn off venting pipe on the Armada gas condensate platform, operated by BG Group Plc, in the North Sea, off the coast of Aberdeen, U.K., Dec. 10, 2015. (Simon Dawson/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Roughly half of the U.K.’s gas imports comes from the North Sea, a third comes from Norway and the rest is sourced from nations like Qatar and the U.S., according to British news outlets.
"We are cautiously confident that there will be adequate margins through the winter period," executive director of the ESO, Fintan Slye, said in a statement.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX BUSINESS APP
Style said that while he is relatively confident British homes will remain heated throughout the winter months, it is still "incumbent on us to also factor in external factors and risks beyond our control like the unprecedented turmoil and volatility in energy markets in Europe and beyond."
Style said U.K. officials will continue to work with European gas officials to ensure stable supplies in the months ahead.