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a continent in crisis

increase to £2,017. The higher price this autumn and a £150 non-repayable
cap took effect on 1 April and will be in reduction in council tax bills from April. BORIS JOHNSON
place until the end of September. Jonathan Brearley, Chief Executive of
Analysts at Investec said they believe Ofgem, said: “We know this rise will be PROMISES NET ZERO
the gas and electricity price surge could extremely worrying for many people,
force the regulator to take the household especially those who are struggling to AMBITIONS WILL
bills price cap “soaring above £3,000”. make ends meet. Ofgem is working to
The government says it is taking stabilise the market and over the longer NOT BE ABANDONED
decisive action to help more than 27 term to diversify our sources of energy
million households with rising energy which will help protect customers from
costs, with a £200 loan towards bills similar price shocks in the future.” KATZ / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

EU ROLLS OUT PLAN TO CUT RUSSIA

GAS DEPENDENCY THIS YEAR

PRIME MINISTER BORIS Johnson
third – 60 billion cubic metres (bcm) has promised to set out an “energy
of the 155bcm Europe gets annually supply strategy” as his climate
from Russia. By 2030, increased policies and UK gas production
biomethane and hydrogen use come under scrutiny during the
could also help. Ukraine crisis.
New wind and solar projects could He said he would outline how
replace 20bcm of gas demand this year, energy needs would be met as
while tripling capacity by 2030, adding concern grows over western
480GW of wind and 420GW of solar reliance on Russian oil and gas. The
energy, could save 170bcm a year. PM said the UK was looking at using
Turning down thermostats by 1°C more domestic energy resources,
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION could save an extra 10bcm this year, according to the BBC.
has published plans to cut EU while by 2030, replacing gas boilers The UK’s vow to reduce
dependency on Russian gas by two- with 30 million heat pumps could carbon emissions would not be
thirds this year and end its reliance save 35bcm, the Commission added. abandoned, he said.
on Russian supplies of the fuel “well Some countries are seeking more “But you’ve got to reflect on the
before 2030”. EU funding to protect consumers reality that there is a crunch on
According to Reuters, the European from soaring gas prices, which hit at the moment,” Johnson said.
Union executive said it would switch fresh highs in March. “We need to intensify our self-
to alternative supplies and expand Countries can tax energy reliance as a transition with more
clean energy faster under the plans, companies’ profits from high gas hydrocarbons.”
which national governments will be prices, to offset higher electricity He added that the UK needed to
largely responsible for implementing. bills, the Commission said. The invest in more nuclear and renewable
The Russian invasion of Ukraine International Energy Agency has said sources to boost energy supplies.
has triggered an overhaul of the such taxes could raise 200 billion The PM made the comments at
27-country EU’s energy priorities euros ($218 billion) this year. a Downing Street news conference
as Brussels seeks to wrest member Gas flows to Europe have so far been in March after Tory MPs urged him
states free from depending on Russia, steady since the invasion, which Russia to increase UK gas production and
which supplies around 40 per cent of calls a “special military operation”. rethink his climate policies over
the bloc’s natural gas. However, Moscow has warned energy cost and supply fears.
“The answer to this concern for that Western sanctions on Russian Nearly 40 MPs have called for an
our security lies in renewable energy oil – an idea supported by the United end to a UK ban on fracking, but
and diversification of supply,” States, but which has split EU nations government sources told the BBC
EU climate policy chief Frans – could prompt it to close a major gas there were no plans to resume the
Timmermans said. “It’s hard, bloody pipeline to Europe. controversial mining process.
hard. But it’s possible.” The EU will also propose rules The UK’s only two shale gas
The new plans come on top of requiring EU countries to fill gas wells, both in Lancashire, are due
climate change policies the EU is storage to 90 per cent by 1 October to be abandoned after the industry
currently negotiating, which are each year. EU storage is currently 27 regulator ordered them to be
designed to cut emissions faster this per cent full. sealed in 2019 following concerns
decade and would alone cut EU gas Europe has enough storage and about earthquakes.
use 30 per cent by 2030. alternative gas supplies for this winter, To improve energy security, Mr
The Commission said gas and but analysts say a prolonged halt to Kwarteng said the government
liquefied natural gas from countries Russian imports would hit Europe’s would back gas production in the
like the United States and Qatar economy and require emergency North Sea during the transition to
could this year replace more than a measures such as factory closures. renewables such as wind power.

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