Energy shortage fears: Britain considers running coal-fired power plants for longer

Worry about lack of energy
UK considers running coal-fired power plants for longer

05/30/2022, 2:42 pm

In light of fears of a power shortage in the coming winter, the government in London is considering a longer operation of three coal-fired power plants and one nuclear power plant.

“It is natural that we are considering a wide range of options to ensure our energy and supply security,” a government source said in London on Monday. Energy Minister Kwasi Quarting called operators Three coal-fired power plants out of the country to keep them employed. The closure was originally scheduled for September. Drax, which operates the largest coal-fired power plant, had already announced in September that the power plant could continue to operate in order to maintain power supply.

Great Britain wants to live without coal, oil and gas from Russia in the long run. However, if Russia cuts off gas supplies to Europe further, up to six million homes in the UK could be affected by blackouts, according to a report by The Times on peak winter consumption.

The government decided in London last week to impose a special tax on the profits of oil companies to support poor families. In addition, it recently published a new strategy that deals with the expansion of renewable energies, but also with investments in the use of oil from the North Sea.