The UK needs more North Sea gas; imports from the US are the real enemy | Nils Pratley

National Gas assures summer supply security, but reliance on imported LNG for winter exposes strategic vulnerability and higher costs. | Contesto: cronaca

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• The UK needs more North Sea gas; imports from the US are the real enemy | Nils Pratley

Contesto

National Gas, the operator of Britain's gas transmission system, announced on Monday that the UK will have sufficient gas supplies to meet demand this summer, despite ongoing turmoil in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route. The statement directly addresses potential concerns over energy security, aiming to provide reassurance to the market and the public during the warmer months. However, this seasonal security comes with a significant caveat. The summer period, when the vast majority of the UK's 24 million gas-connected households have their heating systems switched off, was never considered a point of serious strain. The nation's demand is met almost entirely by gas flowing through pipelines from domestic and Norwegian fields in the North Sea. This stable, direct supply requires little supplementation from liquefied natural gas (LNG), the more volatile and globally traded fuel that arrives by ship. The real test, and the core of the ongoing energy debate, comes with the onset of winter. As temperatures drop and heating demand soars, the pipeline gas from the North Sea becomes insufficient. The UK must then turn to the international LNG market to bridge the gap. This reliance introduces two major vulnerabilities: exposure to geopolitical shocks that can disrupt shipping lanes and send prices spiraling, and dependence on supplies from distant producers, notably the United States. These imported volumes are not only subject to global price auctions but also carry a heavier carbon footprint due to the energy-intensive processes of liquefaction and long-distance transportation. This dynamic frames a critical policy dilemma. The transition to a cleaner energy future is a multi-decade undertaking, requiring stable and affordable power in the interim. Proponents of maximizing North Sea production argue that domestic gas is not only more secure but also represents the least polluting and lowest-cost option available for UK households during this transition. Gas extracted from nearby basins has a lower associated carbon cost than shipped LNG and is not subject to the same international price volatility. The call for households to use more power this...

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Categoria: cronaca