This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/6409875.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
UK 'needs to cut' gas dependency UK 'needs to cut' gas dependency
(about 9 hours later)
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has said that the UK should become less dependent on gas power, and develop nuclear and renewable energy sources. The UK should become less dependent on gas power and develop nuclear and renewable energy sources, the International Energy Agency has said.
Speaking after the group published a report on the UK energy market, IEA executive director Claude Mandil said the UK should also be more efficient.Speaking after the group published a report on the UK energy market, IEA executive director Claude Mandil said the UK should also be more efficient.
He also said that the government needed to be more "proactive" about providing certainty over future policy decisions.He also said that the government needed to be more "proactive" about providing certainty over future policy decisions.
Mr Mandil's comments come as the UK is reviewing its national energy policy.Mr Mandil's comments come as the UK is reviewing its national energy policy.
'Significant barrier''Significant barrier'
Prime Minister Tony Blair has said that the UK should be willing to consider any type of power generation, and last year the UK gave the go-ahead for new wave of nuclear power stations.Prime Minister Tony Blair has said that the UK should be willing to consider any type of power generation, and last year the UK gave the go-ahead for new wave of nuclear power stations.
This stance has proved controversial, drawing fire from Labour supporters, opposition parties and environmental groups.This stance has proved controversial, drawing fire from Labour supporters, opposition parties and environmental groups.
Mr Mandil said that the UK was right to consider nuclear power because "no technology should be ruled out on principle".Mr Mandil said that the UK was right to consider nuclear power because "no technology should be ruled out on principle".
The key to future policy will be allowing "market participants to decide on the fuels of their new power stations".The key to future policy will be allowing "market participants to decide on the fuels of their new power stations".
The planning system is a significant barrier to energy infrastructure developments and can become a risk to security of supply Claude Mandil, IEAThe planning system is a significant barrier to energy infrastructure developments and can become a risk to security of supply Claude Mandil, IEA
Rather than dictating the terms of new power station construction, Mr Mandil said that the government should streamline its approval and construction processes, and this in turn would help promote energy diversity.Rather than dictating the terms of new power station construction, Mr Mandil said that the government should streamline its approval and construction processes, and this in turn would help promote energy diversity.
"The planning system under which large infrastructure projects are licensed, permitted and built, is a significant barrier to energy infrastructure developments and can become a risk to security of supply," he explained."The planning system under which large infrastructure projects are licensed, permitted and built, is a significant barrier to energy infrastructure developments and can become a risk to security of supply," he explained.
"The UK government should address this issue, to facilitate the provision of renewables as well as other energy infrastructure for which the market signals a need, but which cannot be tackled due to planning problems.""The UK government should address this issue, to facilitate the provision of renewables as well as other energy infrastructure for which the market signals a need, but which cannot be tackled due to planning problems."
Sound foundationsSound foundations
Referring to the supply problems of last year's winter that produced a spike in domestic gas prices, Mr Mandil said that "it clearly demonstrated that the UK's market worked".Referring to the supply problems of last year's winter that produced a spike in domestic gas prices, Mr Mandil said that "it clearly demonstrated that the UK's market worked".
The higher prices meant that demand was cut at a time when domestic gas production was declining quickly and at the same time "spurred new long-term capacity developments to ensure that a repetition of the crisis is unlikely".The higher prices meant that demand was cut at a time when domestic gas production was declining quickly and at the same time "spurred new long-term capacity developments to ensure that a repetition of the crisis is unlikely".
"One year on, new Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and pipeline capacity is on stream and wholesale gas prices have now fallen to half the level in continental Europe," he said."One year on, new Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and pipeline capacity is on stream and wholesale gas prices have now fallen to half the level in continental Europe," he said.
At the same time, "several increases in power generation capacity have been announced over the past year", he said.At the same time, "several increases in power generation capacity have been announced over the past year", he said.
"This willingness to invest in the UK's energy market shows that its foundation is sound," Mr Mandil said."This willingness to invest in the UK's energy market shows that its foundation is sound," Mr Mandil said.