2 fertiliser plants already closed
Risk to food and farm supplies
URGENT meeting to be held on SATURDAY
The government is to hold urgent talks with representatives from the energy industry amid growing concern about a spike in wholesale gas prices.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng will talk to gas suppliers and others on Saturday to hear how wide-reaching the impact of the surge in prices could be.
High global demand, maintenance issues at some gas sites and lower solar and wind output are blamed for the rise.
The high prices have already led two large UK fertiliser plants to close.
Government sources have said there is no threat to UK gas supplies and the impacts on small energy companies that might be the most exposed are being monitored.
But the BBC has been told that officials are looking at whether products that could end up being in short supply, such as fertiliser, could be imported from abroad.
Risk to food and farm supplies
URGENT meeting to be held on SATURDAY
The government is to hold urgent talks with representatives from the energy industry amid growing concern about a spike in wholesale gas prices.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng will talk to gas suppliers and others on Saturday to hear how wide-reaching the impact of the surge in prices could be.
High global demand, maintenance issues at some gas sites and lower solar and wind output are blamed for the rise.
The high prices have already led two large UK fertiliser plants to close.
Government sources have said there is no threat to UK gas supplies and the impacts on small energy companies that might be the most exposed are being monitored.
But the BBC has been told that officials are looking at whether products that could end up being in short supply, such as fertiliser, could be imported from abroad.
Gas price rises prompt urgent government talks
There are concerns the high price of wholesale gas could have a far-reaching impact on the economy.
www.bbc.co.uk
