North Sea gas drying up faster than hoped

North Sea gas reserves are being used up faster than anticipated, MPs said yesterday, warning that energy shortages will be impossible to avert in the event of the predicted harsh winter. Taking evidence from government ministers and energy industry experts, the House of Commons trade and industry committee heard that Britain's gas is being depleted well ahead of schedule.

The natural gas reserves in the UK "Continental Shelf" area are about 600 billion cubic metres [21 trillion cubic feet], and production is declining from its peak in 2000. According to current official estimates, the UK is expected to be 50 per cent dependent on imported gas by 2010, and 80 per cent dependent by 2020.

The MPs calculated that for every 10 per cent increase in fuel prices, an extra 400,000-500,000 households in England and 60,000 in Scotland fall into "fuel poverty", spending more than 10 per cent of their income on energy. Despite government attempts to downplay talk of a gas crisis this winter, Scottish MPs of all parties yesterday insisted there could be severe problems ahead.

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