Britain’s gas security needs reinforcement. Last-minute deals with Belgium are not a proper fix
News Source
•Fri, 23 Oct 2026 05:00:02 GMT
📰 What Happened
Britain still imports almost 60% of the gas it uses, and the government has done a deal with Belgium to keep supplies flowing this winter. The plan keeps space on a pipeline ready in case something serious goes wrong. It will add about 10p a month to bills.
Columnist Nils Pratley says the deal is sensible but small. It only helps in a bad case, such as a failure at the Milford Haven terminals that bring in gas by ship.
🔍 The Backstory
The UK has approved the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea, but that will not cover demand. Many homes still use gas for heating, and gas-fired power stations are needed when the wind does not blow.
Milford Haven handles a large share of the country's imported gas. If those terminals failed during a long cold snap, Britain would need other routes in. The Belgian pipeline is one, but it depends on Belgium having spare gas to send.
🎯 Why It Matters
A winter without enough gas means higher prices or even power cuts. This deal costs almost nothing, but it shows Britain has little room for error on energy.
Britain still imports almost 60% of the gas it uses, and the government has done a deal with Belgium to keep supplies flowing this winter. The plan keeps space on a pipeline ready in case something serious goes wrong. It will add about 10p a month to bills.
Columnist Nils Pratley says the deal is sensible but small. It only helps in a bad case, such as a failure at the Milford Haven terminals that bring in gas by ship.
The UK has approved the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea, but that will not cover demand. Many homes still use gas for heating, and gas-fired power stations are needed when the wind does not blow.
Milford Haven handles a large share of the country's imported gas. If those terminals failed during a long cold snap, Britain would need other routes in. The Belgian pipeline is one, but it depends on Belgium having spare gas to send.
A winter without enough gas means higher prices or even power cuts. This deal costs almost nothing, but it shows Britain has little room for error on energy.