Securing a reliable future energy supply
Securing and improving the diversity of supply for future energy needs is a growing global concern. In the UK, the demand for gas is increasing while the North Sea gas supply, a major current source of UK gas, is dwindling.
It is estimated that by 2010 the UK will import approximately 50% of its gas. This is one of the reasons why we are increasing our liquefied natural gas (LNG) importation capacity at the Isle of Grain – the largest facility in UK and the US. We are continuing to invest in Grain and by 2010 it should have the capacity to import 14.8 million tonnes per year – around 20% of the UK’s forecast gas demand.
In the US, LNG is an essential part of our future supply outlook. We have 16 storage facilities across New England and New York with a total storage capacity of more than 9 billion standard cubic feet. LNG allows us to maintain our supply and demand balance and meet hourly peaks. It is also used to support the distribution system by bringing on LNG when needed to support system pressures.