Power station closure would mean blackouts on both sides of Border

THERE will be electricity blackouts on both sides of the Border if there is another major breakdown in Northern Ireland’s power stations, it was warned yesterday.

The new Coolkeeragh generating plant in Derry, run by the ESB, is out of action after running into problems, and the North cannot afford another station to go off line.

Northern Ireland Electricity spokesman Robin Greer said things were "very tight" with little or no spare generating capacity.