Business chief criticises planners for energy "crisis"

Planning authorities have come under criticism from industrialists for delaying the development of key gas storage facilities.

Sir Digby Jones, director general of the Confederation of British Industry, said businesses had warned three or four years ago that the UK needed more gas storage facilities to ensure there is sufficient fuel for power stations and central heating in the event of a cold winter and as the country increasingly becomes dependent on imported fuel.

Sir Digby said "local authorities of all different political parties all said ‘we don't want these horrible things in my backyard'. So what have we got? We have got 11 days worth of gas to generate electricity on standby, every country in Europe has 55 days, we have 11".

Currently, there are plans for 10 storage projects in the development and planning pipeline. One company Star Energy has been waiting nearly two years for a decision from Lincolnshire County Council over its plan to convert depleted onshore oil and gas fields into a storage facility one mile below Welton.

"It's like one of those bad dreams where you just can't catch that bus that's moving away," commented Star's chief executive Roland Wessel.

US-owned Canatxx is attempting to get permission to store gas in salt caverns under the Wyre estuary in Lancashire. A storage scheme at Byley in Cheshire went to appeal and was only consented this year after the intervention of ministers.

Roger Milne

28 October 2005