Power cuts loom unless energy gap tackled

Britain will be hit by lengthy power cuts in about five years' time unless urgent action is taken, an energy report out today warns.

Pro-nuclear organisation Fells Associates said that the energy gap was more serious than both the credit crunch and climate change and called for the issue to be given greater priority.

It report claims that new nuclear reactors will not be ready in time to replace the ageing fleet and calls into question the “wishful thinking” of the government's renewables strategy.

The current credit crunch is a head cold compared to the double pneumonia this country will suffer if we don't implement an energy policy urgently.

Candida Whitmill, joint report author

The report, A Pragmatic Energy Policy for the UK, says: “Piecemeal legislation has resulted in a crisis situation for both short-term and long-term energy supply in the UK. Industry insiders predict major shortages within the next five years.”

One of its authors, Candida Whitmill, said: “The current credit crunch is a head cold compared to the double pneumonia this country will suffer if we don't implement an energy policy urgently.

“That is why security of supply now takes priority over everything, even climate change.”