This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/business/534977-uk-plants-shutdown-energy-prices/

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Surging energy prices in Europe force UK plants to shut down Surging energy prices in Europe force UK plants to shut down
(about 1 month later)
A major fertilizer manufacturer has been forced to shut down two factories in the UK as energy prices continue to soar in Europe.A major fertilizer manufacturer has been forced to shut down two factories in the UK as energy prices continue to soar in Europe.
The US-based CF Industries Holdings announced the shutdown of its manufacturing complexes in Billingham and Ince, with no timeline for when production may restart, as European power prices surge to multi-year highs.The US-based CF Industries Holdings announced the shutdown of its manufacturing complexes in Billingham and Ince, with no timeline for when production may restart, as European power prices surge to multi-year highs.
The step comes amid an extreme squeeze for energy supplies across Europe and the UK that has sent spot prices for natural gas soaring by up to 20% – more than four times the level seen this time last year. The crunch was reportedly triggered by limited flows from the region’s top suppliers, Russia and Norway. Shipments of liquefied natural gas have also slowed, as Asia has started buying up cargoes to meet its own demand.The step comes amid an extreme squeeze for energy supplies across Europe and the UK that has sent spot prices for natural gas soaring by up to 20% – more than four times the level seen this time last year. The crunch was reportedly triggered by limited flows from the region’s top suppliers, Russia and Norway. Shipments of liquefied natural gas have also slowed, as Asia has started buying up cargoes to meet its own demand.
The October gas futures contracts at the Dutch TTF exchange climbed to a record high of €79 ($93.31) a megawatt-hour this week. The contract has risen more than 250% since January, according to Reuters, while benchmark power contracts in France and Germany have doubled.The October gas futures contracts at the Dutch TTF exchange climbed to a record high of €79 ($93.31) a megawatt-hour this week. The contract has risen more than 250% since January, according to Reuters, while benchmark power contracts in France and Germany have doubled.
Analysts at Goldman Sachs expect these soaring prices to evoke power outages during the upcoming winter with blackouts pushing bills even higher, raising concerns over the costs to businesses already shouldering higher costs for raw materials.Analysts at Goldman Sachs expect these soaring prices to evoke power outages during the upcoming winter with blackouts pushing bills even higher, raising concerns over the costs to businesses already shouldering higher costs for raw materials.
The shutdown of the CF Industries plants may have an impact on global pricing for fertilizers, with other producers following suit, according to Alexis Maxwell, an analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence.The shutdown of the CF Industries plants may have an impact on global pricing for fertilizers, with other producers following suit, according to Alexis Maxwell, an analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence.
“The market will read this as [evidence that] other European producers are likely to shut down, and nitrogen prices will continue to rise on the supply-side shortage,” the analyst said.“The market will read this as [evidence that] other European producers are likely to shut down, and nitrogen prices will continue to rise on the supply-side shortage,” the analyst said.
For more stories on economy & finance visit RT's business sectionFor more stories on economy & finance visit RT's business section
Dear readers and commenters,
We have implemented a new engine for our comment section. We hope the transition goes smoothly for all of you. Unfortunately, the comments made before the change have been lost due to a technical problem. We are working on restoring them, and hoping to see you fill up the comment section with new ones. You should still be able to log in to comment using your social-media profiles, but if you signed up under an RT profile before, you are invited to create a new profile with the new commenting system.
Sorry for the inconvenience, and looking forward to your future comments,
RT Team.