UK Pledges Strong Action to Prevent Future Gas Supply Crisis

UK Energy Minister Michael Shanks has warned that the country must “do whatever it takes” to avoid a potential gas supply crisis by 2030, following official advice that severe shortages could occur during prolonged cold weather. Shanks said the government will strengthen gas storage, improve import capacity, and accelerate decarbonisation, criticizing previous administrations for failing to prepare for declining North Sea production.
The National Energy System Operator (Neso) recently cautioned that the UK faces an “emerging risk” to gas security. While everyday demand is expected to decline over time, extreme cold conditions could still create shortfalls—especially if any part of Britain’s ageing gas infrastructure fails. Such an outage could trigger emergency measures, including cutting supply to factories and power plants, and in worst cases, impacting households.
Britain remains heavily dependent on gas imports from Europe, Qatar, and the US, while domestic output has dropped to its lowest level in 50 years. Neso stressed the need for cross-industry collaboration to safeguard supply, particularly during peak demand periods when renewable energy output is low.
Energy regulators and network operators said they are working with the government to mitigate risks and ensure the country maintains reliable gas access as the energy system transitions toward cleaner sources.