British Gas are reopening their mega site ahead of winter amid fears that the UK only has “nine days” of supply left.
British Gas have announced that they will reopen their “Rough gas fields” to increase the gas supply capacity by 50%, the Mirror has reported.
Centrica who own British Gas have warned that this will not be a “silver bullet for energy security” as fears continue to grow that there could be widespread energy shortages this winter.
The mega site is off the Yorkshire coast beneath the North Sea which is crucial to help “the UK this winter” Centrica insists.
Centrica insists that the “Rough can help” the UK’s energy system by storing “natural gas.”
Centrica Group Chief Executive, Chris O’Shea, said, “I’m delighted that we have managed to return Rough to storage operations for this winter following a substantial investment in engineering modifications.
“Our long-term aim remains to turn the Rough field into the world’s biggest methane and hydrogen storage facility, bolstering the UK’s energy security, delivering a net zero electricity system by 2035, decarbonising the UK’s industrial clusters, such as the Humber region by 2040, and helping the UK economy by returning to being a net exporter of energy.
“In the short term we think Rough can help our energy system by storing natural gas when there is a surplus and producing this gas when the country needs it during cold snaps and peak demand.
“Rough is not a silver bullet for energy security, but it is a key part of a range of steps which can be taken to help the UK this winter.”
