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Behemoth
Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 19023
Location: Leeds
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 Posted: Tue Dec 20, 05 9:49 am Post subject: DTI Energy Review |
 
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Monday 19 December 2005 14:44
Department of Trade and Industry (National)
ENERGY REVIEW MUST ADDRESS 2020 'DO NOTHING' SCENARIO
Up to 80 per cent of the UK's gas supply could be coming from abroad by 2020 and we will run a real risk of falling behind our energy policy goals if we don't start making decisions, Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks made clear today.
In his first Energy Review speech he showed that, as the UK becomes increasingly reliant on gas imports, the need to ensure secure, clean, affordable energy supplies for the long term has never been more critical.
Speaking at the Social Market Foundation this morning, the Energy Minister said:
"Although our current energy mix is diverse, with 19 per cent from nuclear, 33 per cent from coal, 40 per cent gas and 4 per cent and rising from renewables, changes at home and beyond our borders require that we rethink our energy future.
"At home our gas output has declined faster than expected, most of our nuclear stations will decommission by 2020, and EU Directives to cut emissions could bring coal generation down to 16 per cent by 2020.
"As economies like China, India and Brazil expand and their thirst for energy increases we'll be competing with them to secure those supplies across what may at times be unstable borders.
"The changes since 2003 mean now is the time to review UK energy policy."
Mr Wicks posed key questions for the Energy Review:
* How can we speed up progress in reducing carbon emissions, particularly through the way we generate electricity?
* How can we develop more effective policy tools for securing energy efficiency?
* How can we ensure we achieve reasonable reliability and security of energy supplies?
* How do we achieve all of these things in a way that is affordable and doesn't damage our competitiveness, public finances and prosperity?
He concluded:
"I want to use this review to have a grown up, informed debate around these difficult issues. I am not interested in spending the next few months responding to those people who have written off this review as a forgone conclusion - or who believe that there is only one answer to the challenges we're facing.
"There will be challenging decisions to be taken at the end of this process but it is better to take them soon - and in good time - than to be judged severely by future generations who might otherwise ask why we did not act when we had the opportunity to do so."
Notes for Editors
1. The full speech is available by contacting DTI press office or from https://www.dti.gov.uk/ministers/ministers/wicks.html#speeches
2. On 29 November the Prime Minister announced the Terms of Reference for the Energy Review:
"The Government will review the UK's progress against the medium and long-term Energy White Paper goals and the options for further steps to achieve them. The aim will be to bring forward proposals on energy policy next year.
"The Review will be informed by analysis and options drawn up by a Review team led by the Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks. This will be a team of officials drawn from key relevant departments and the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit. In drawing up the analysis and options, the Energy Minister will undertake extensive public and stakeholder consultation. The Review will be taken forward in the context of the Government's commitment to sound public finances. The Review team will report to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in early summer."
Department of Trade and Industry
7th Floor
1 Victoria Street
London SW1H 0ET
Public Enquiries +44 (0)20 7215 5000
Textphone +44 (0)20 7215 6740
(for those with hearing impairment)
https://www.dti.gov.uk |
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