Energy supplies rely on Moscow for gas
tensions with Moscow have highlighted the UK’s reliance on Russian gas.
Britain imports an increasing amount of its gas due to dwindling north sea stocks.
nearly half of the UK’s gas comes from european pipelines and more than a third of that is from Russia.
A further 13 per cent of the UK’s stocks come as liquefied natural gas, which Russia provided nearly half of this year.
the country already has a foothold here via Gazprom, who sell mainly to British firms.
A cold snap next week is set to raise energy demand, and push wholesale costs higher. And a report from energy experts s&p platts said this could force europe to use more Russian gas.
it said: “Given the surge in demand, Russian gas supplies are considered the only swing source of gas under current conditions.
“Domestic production and other import sources are effectively maxed out.”
if demand increases and wholesale prices rise, many energy firms will pass on the extra costs to consumer.
Russia is also a major supplier of coal to the UK, and was the biggest overseas source in 2015.
tim Roache, general secretary of the GMB union, said: “there is a real danger here for the Government in terms of energy independence.
“We should not be beholden to foreign powers who could turn the tap off.”