Fears grow in UK over gas supplies

Concerns were increasing today over the supply of gas after a special alert was issued by the company that oversees Britain’s pipelines.

The unprecedented “gas balancing alert”, published by National Grid, provides industry and gas traders with early warning that demand is outstripping supply.

It came as wholesale natural gas prices soared yesterday in reaction to a cold snap that has left suppliers struggling to meet demand.

Some of the gas shortage has also been blamed on other European countries, accused of failing to supply enough gas to the UK through a special interconnecting pipeline despite the concerns over shortages.

Chris Mostyn, a spokesman for National Grid, said the predicted shortfall was caused by the cold weather and a recent fire that closed a large North Sea gas-storage site.

He said householders should not worry about the alert, adding: “If we get to any sort of scenario where we have to take emergency action, consumers are our priority customers.

“It is the larger users, commerce and industry, that can be interrupted if needs be, but that would be way further down the line.”

One newspaper reported that hospitals may be among the “larger” users that could have their supplies interrupted.

But a Department of Health spokesman told The Daily Mail: “NHS hospitals have priority status.

"This means they would lose their gas only as a last resort.”