Republic vulnerable over energy imports

IRELAND is one of the most vulnerable countries in the European Union when it comes to energy supply and must diversify to ensure supplies for the future, the European Commission says.

Ireland is one of eight EU countries that gets all its imported gas from a single supplier — Russia — and is one of the countries most dependent on oil imports for electricity generation.

A package of energy proposals released by the commission to address the twin problems of harmful emissions and energy security includes a €1 trillion EU-wide super grid linking electricity supplies; a €150bn gas network and a significant investment in alternative energy sources.