Crisis could push up Irish power prices

IRELAND must urgently review its dependency on imported natural gas as a spike in demand caused by earthquake-hit Japan could push up electricity prices at home, environmental body An Taisce said.

The organisation warned that Japan was turning to Russia for urgent supplies of gas in the wake of its nuclear crisis, potentially driving up the price of the fuel being pumped into Europe.

The national trust said that as Ireland imports 92% of the gas needed to generate its electricity, household electric bills could rise beyond the control of the Government or the Commission for Energy Regulation.